Eurostars funds R&D collaboration between SMEs from 2+ Eureka countries. Lower bar than EIC Accelerator (25% acceptance vs 5%), focused on market-driven innovation that reaches market within 2 years.
Funding
| Category | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Per partner | Up to €1,000,000 | — |
| Total project size | Typically €500K – €5M | — |
| Co-funding rate | 40-50% per partner | Country-specific |
| Project duration | Up to 36 months | — |
Eligibility
- ≥ 2 SMEs from 2 different Eureka countries (37 countries total)
- Lead partner is an R&D-intensive SME
- Project market-driven (not pure research)
- Time-to-market within 2 years of project end
- Knowledge institutions may be partners, max 50% of budget
Application process
1
1. Find international partner
Eureka Network search, Enterprise Europe Network brokerage events, or own network. Letter of Intent early.
2
2. Co-write proposal
Lead partner coordinates 30-page proposal — Excellence, Impact, Implementation sections.
3
3. Submit to Eureka Secretariat
Centralized submission via Eureka Online Platform. Two cut-offs per year (March, September).
4
4. International peer review
Independent experts evaluate innovation, market, consortium, project management.
5
5. National co-funding
If awarded: each country handles its own SME co-funding (NL = via RVO).
⚠️ Common pitfalls
- Partner search started too late (4-6 months minimum recommended)
- Insufficient time-to-market commitment
- Project more research than development
- Overlap with other EU subsidies on same activities
Deadlines
Two cut-offs per year: March and September. Preparation: 4-6 months for first-time applicants.
FAQ
Eurostars vs EIC?
Eurostars = 2+ partners required, R&D phase, 25% acceptance, grant-only, more accessible. EIC Accelerator = single SME, scaling phase, 5% acceptance, grant + equity.
Which countries participate?
37 Eureka member countries: all EU + UK, Norway, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, South Korea, Canada, Singapore and others.
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