Eurostars Programme Open to Applications

Eurostars-3 (as part of the European Partnership for Innovative SMEs) is a funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and project partners (large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations) by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects.

The overall objectives are to:

• Promote market-oriented transnational research activities in any fields of research performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those without previous experience in transnational research, leading to the placing of new or improved products, processes and services on the market
• Contribute to the completion of the European Research Area (ERA) and to increase the accessibility, efficiency and efficacy of public funding for research-performing SMEs in Europe by aligning, harmonising and synchronising the national funding mechanisms

The participating countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Applications must be submitted by consortia lead by innovative SMEs and their partners (large companies, academic institutions, research institutes and any other types of organisations) by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects.

To be considered innovative, SMEs do not need a proven track record of R&D activities.

In Eurostars, the provision of funding to Eurostars participants is managed at national level by the National Funding Bodies (NFBs). If a project is successful, each participant in a consortium would receive Eurostars funding from their own NFB and based on rules specific to their country. National rules establish which types of organisations can receive funds, the level of funding available, and which project activities can be funded. Rules differ from country to country.

Applications must be submitted by 4 November 2021 (14:00 CET).