Eurostars Call 11 Now Open | International R&D Funding for Innovative SMEs and Research Partners

Why this opportunity matters

The programme is specifically designed for market-driven innovation, encouraging organisations to combine complementary expertise, share technical capabilities, and jointly develop innovations that can compete in global markets.

Who should apply?

• Innovative SMEs
• Large companies
• Universities
• Public research institutions
• Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
• Innovation centres
• Commercialisation partners

Eligible Countries

• Austria
• Belgium (Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia)
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• United Kingdom

Consortium Requirements

• Be led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country.
• Include at least two independent organisations.
• Organisations from at least two Eurostars countries, with at least one participant from an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• SMEs from Eurostars countries must account for 50% or more of the total project budget (excluding subcontracting).
• No single participant or country may account for more than 70% of the project budget.
• Projects must have a duration of 36 months or less.
• Projects must focus exclusively on civilian applications.

Funding

• Funding is not provided directly by Eurostars.
• Instead, each successful organisation receives funding from its own National Funding Body.
• Funding rates vary by country.
• Eligible project activities vary by country.
• Maximum funding amounts are determined nationally.
• Applicants should consult their National Funding Body before submitting an application.

Application Process

• Applicants are encouraged to contact their National Funding Body to discuss eligibility and funding.
• Create an international consortium led by an innovative SME.
• Create an application through the Eurostars online project platform.
• Complete the application in English.
• Submit all required supporting documentation, including commitment forms, SME declarations, and any country-specific financial documentation.
• Submit the final application before the deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

• Quality of implementation
• Consortium quality
• Project planning
• Cost effectiveness
• International collaboration
• Impact
• Commercialisation strategy
• Market opportunity
• Competitive advantage
• Economic, environmental and societal benefits
• Excellence
• Innovation
• Technical quality
• New knowledge creation
• Technical feasibility and risk management

Important Dates

• Applications Open: 9 July 2026
• Application Deadline: 10 September 2026 (14:00 Brussels Time)
• Eligibility Checks: Within one week after the deadline
• Independent Expert Evaluation: Mid-October 2026
• Evaluation Panel: End of November 2026
• Funding Results Expected: by mid-December 2026