On this page · 14 sections→
Overview
ITEA is the Eureka cluster for software innovation. It brings companies, SMEs and research organisations together around industry-led R&D in software-intensive systems, from industrial and engineering tools to digital health, mobility and security.
Budget time for both the international proposal and national applications.
Is this for you?
Success rates — the honest picture
Eligibility
- 1An international collaboration in software and systems innovation, aligned with the ITEA call.
- 2Partners must check the participation and funding requirements of their own national authorities.
- 3An ITEA label is followed by national funding decisions; it does not guarantee a grant.
The ITEA label is a quality decision, not an automatic grant. Rates, eligible organisations and budgets vary by country.
The ITEA label is necessary for the national funding route but does not guarantee an award. Partners apply individually to their public authorities, which can have different eligibility, deadlines and priorities.
What the support covers
Grant rates, eligible costs and funding availability depend on the partner's national authority. National applications run alongside the ITEA selection process.
How to apply — step by step
- 1Build the software R&D consortiumOutline: 2 November
Prepare the online record and the current offline outline; check the generated reference document before submission.
Official instructions - 2Develop the invited full proposalFPP: 11 February 2027
Follow the full-proposal instructions and submit the required declarations.
Official instructions - 3Secure national fundingQ4 2026–Q2 2027
Coordinate each partner’s agency application and funding decision.
Official instructions
What evaluators look for
Rationale and objectives
Explain the problem, proposed innovation, realistic outputs and use cases that can validate the result.
Market and wider impact
Support the market case, commercialisation, business KPIs, industry adoption and measurable societal benefits.
Technical innovation
Establish the state of the art, the advance beyond it and technical KPIs with baselines and targets.
Consortium and collaboration
Cover the value chain, partner capabilities and cross-border joint development; explain any missing expertise.
Realisation and management
Provide credible work packages, milestones, resources and risk management.
Proposal quality and eligibility
Follow format and length rules. Every partner must satisfy the ITEA rules and its national requirements.
Documents you'll need
Outline, full proposal, declarations and national funding milestones.
- Contains:
- Outline, full proposal, declarations and national funding milestones.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Current preparation instructions and template download.
- Contains:
- Current preparation instructions and template download.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Guidance for preparing the full project proposal.
- Contains:
- Guidance for preparing the full project proposal.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Programme, project portfolio, community and national funding contacts.
- Contains:
- Programme, project portfolio, community and national funding contacts.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Assessment rubric for project outlines and full proposals.
- Contains:
- Assessment rubric for project outlines and full proposals.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Outline annex, Letter of Intent, Declaration of Acceptance, Rules and Regulations, contribution rules and model cooperation-agreement access.
- Contains:
- Outline annex, Letter of Intent, Declaration of Acceptance, Rules and Regulations, contribution rules and model cooperation-agreement access.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Public-authority contacts and country-specific funding guidance.
- Contains:
- Public-authority contacts and country-specific funding guidance.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Online record and outline annex preparation.
- Contains:
- Online record and outline annex preparation.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
Invited stage instructions, partner declarations and national-authority coordination.
- Contains:
- Invited stage instructions, partner declarations and national-authority coordination.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
2026 Deadlines
- 2026-09-152026-09-15Call opens
- 2026-11-022026-11-02Project Outline deadline
17:00 CET.
- 2026-11-162026-11-16Letter of Intent
- 2026-12-152026-12-15Outline decisions
- 2026-12-172026-12-17Full proposal webinar
- 2027-02-112027-02-11Full proposal deadline
17:00 CET; includes Declaration of Acceptance.
- 2027-03-312027-03-31Label decisions
- Q4 2026–Q2 2027Q4 2026–Q2 2027National funding applications
Agency-specific procedures.
After you're funded
Each partner signs the Declaration of Acceptance; the label becomes valid after the required declaration. All partners also sign a Project Co-operation Agreement covering their cooperation.
National grant agreements determine payments and eligible costs. ITEA project contributions finance its office, so consult the current contribution rules when budgeting.
The Frame Agreement and model cooperation agreement can require a community login. Obtain the current versions from ITEA rather than copying another consortium’s document.
Practical notes
Budget time for both the international proposal and national applications. Agree the role and commercial benefit of every partner before the Project Outline.
Official sources checked on 12 October 2026. Calls can be amended; confirm the current terms and exact submission time in the linked official documents.
Key Features
Official links & resources
Frequently Asked Questions
A software company with a substantial technical innovation and partners who can develop, validate and commercialise it. Routine implementation work or an isolated SaaS sales plan is unlikely to justify an international R&D consortium.
Grant rates, eligible costs and funding availability depend on the partner's national authority. National applications run alongside the ITEA selection process.
Call 2026 opened on 15 September. Project Outlines close on 2 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. The 11 February 2027, 17:00 CET deadline is for invited Full Project Proposals, not new first-stage applications.
Related Programmes
Explore Further
Ask about ITEA — Software Innovation
Get instant AI answers about ITEA — Software Innovation — eligibility, deadlines, tips, and more.