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Overview
Eurostars funds collaborative research and development with a commercial destination. It is a practical route for a technology SME that needs expertise in another country to develop a new product, process or service. The international evaluation is shared; the money comes through participating national agencies.
Resolve the funding position of every partner before writing the full proposal.
Is this for you?
Success rates — the honest picture
| Country / region | SME rate | National cap / condition |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Small 60%; medium 50% | Additional FFG cost plan within two weeks of the international deadline. |
| France | Up to 40% | Prior agency contact; finance plan and draft consortium agreement. |
| Germany | Up to 50% | €500K across German partners; R&D only to TRL 6; no clinical trials. |
| Netherlands | Up to 50% | €500K for the Dutch share; Dutch company required for research partners. |
| Spain | Small 60%; medium 50% | €400K per participant; up to 70% only if national budget permits. |
| Sweden | Up to 50% | SEK5M per project; two registered annual reports required. |
| United Kingdom | Up to 60% | €360K shared by UK partners; SME-only public funding. |
| Brussels / Greece | No allocated budget listed | Call 12 applicants must discuss self-funding or alternatives. |
Selected conditions checked 12 October 2026 against Eureka Call 12 and RVO. Caps apply to different units; they are not additive consortium awards. National eligibility is additional to the international ranking.
Eligibility
- 1An innovative SME in a Eurostars country leads the consortium.
- 2At least two independent entities from two participating countries; at least one must be in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country.
- 3Participating SMEs account for at least 50% of the project budget, excluding subcontracting. No participant or country carries more than 70%.
- 4Civil applications only; project duration no more than 36 months. Each partner must also meet its national funding rules.
An innovative SME leads. At least two independent organisations from participating countries are required, including an EU or Horizon Europe associated country. SMEs bear at least half the budget excluding subcontracting; no participant or country may exceed 70%.
Maximum duration is 36 months; activities must be civilian. National funding eligibility is additional to the international criteria.
What the support covers
There is no universal Eurostars grant amount or reimbursement rate. National caps, eligible costs and funding decisions differ between partners.
How to apply — step by step
- 1Confirm each partner’s national fundingBefore submission
Check rates, available budget and local requirements with each national agency.
Official instructions - 2Assemble the joint proposalBefore 4 March 2027
Prepare the English application, partner commitments, SME declarations and financial material requested in the library.
Official instructions - 3Complete evaluation and national contractingIndicatively 5–7 months
A joint ranking is followed by national funding decisions and a consortium agreement.
Official instructions
What evaluators look for
Implementation
Show a balanced consortium, feasible work plan, resources and financial capacity.
Impact
Explain market opportunity, competitive advantage and commercialisation.
Excellence
Demonstrate technical novelty, challenges and a credible research approach.
Documents you'll need
Call dates, national funding conditions and decision timetable.
- Contains:
- Call dates, national funding conditions and decision timetable.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Application guidance, forms, assessment rules, financial viability tools, consortium and reporting resources.
- Contains:
- Application guidance, forms, assessment rules, financial viability tools, consortium and reporting resources.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Consortium, SME, budget, duration and civil-purpose eligibility.
- Contains:
- Consortium, SME, budget, duration and civil-purpose eligibility.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Programme structure and participating funding bodies.
- Contains:
- Programme structure and participating funding bodies.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Mandatory national assessment of SME status, legal establishment and ability to finance the project.
- Contains:
- Mandatory national assessment of SME status, legal establishment and ability to finance the project.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Partner commitment resource and current downloadable form.
- Contains:
- Partner commitment resource and current downloadable form.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Official evaluation and ranking guidance.
- Contains:
- Official evaluation and ranking guidance.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Reporting instructions for approved projects.
- Contains:
- Reporting instructions for approved projects.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- During delivery
Closure and end-of-project reporting instructions.
- Contains:
- Closure and end-of-project reporting instructions.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- At project completion
Dutch funding rates, national application procedure and international cut-offs.
- Contains:
- Dutch funding rates, national application procedure and international cut-offs.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Historical national resolution for projects already approved in Call 10. It does not set the Call 12 national deadline.
- Contains:
- Historical national resolution for projects already approved in Call 10. It does not set the Call 12 national deadline.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
2026 Deadlines
- 2026-12-172026-12-17Call 12 opens
- 2027-03-042027-03-04Application deadline
14:00 CET; call 12.
- April 2027April 2027Expert and financial checks
Indicative timetable; eligibility notification is expected within one week of the deadline.
- May 2027May 2027Ranking and ethics review
Indicative: end of May.
- June 2027June 2027Funding communication
Indicative: mid-June; national agreements are targeted within 5–7 months after submission.
After you're funded
Use the consortium agreement, change-request, progress-report and end-of-project guidance in the official library; each national grant agreement determines payments and eligible costs.
Practical notes
Resolve the funding position of every partner before writing the full proposal. A strong international score does not remove national budget constraints.
Official sources checked on 12 October 2026. Calls can be amended; confirm the current terms and exact submission time in the linked official documents.
Prepare the application, SME declaration, commitments, ethics assessment and any self-funding declaration. Also collect each agency’s finance annexes. A positive technical score does not override an adverse legal/financial check.
A consortium can pass international selection while a partner remains unfunded. Confirm each partner’s budget availability before submission and track separate national contracting tasks after the ranking.
Key Features
Official links & resources
Frequently Asked Questions
An innovative SME with a specific technical problem, an international R&D partner and a credible route to commercialisation. Software, hardware, deep tech and health technology can fit; ordinary business expansion without R&D does not.
There is no universal Eurostars grant amount or reimbursement rate. National caps, eligible costs and funding decisions differ between partners.
Call 12 opens on 17 December 2026 and closes on 4 March 2027 at 14:00 CET. Check each national agency’s funding availability and rates before committing the consortium.
Related Programmes
Eureka Network Projects
National funding terms
View programme →ITEA — Software Innovation
National funding rates
View programme →EIC Accelerator
Grant below €2.5M + €0.5M–€10M investment
View programme →Explore Further
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