CELTIC-NEXT Spring Call 2026 – Eureka Cluster for Advanced ICT R&D

The CELTIC-NEXT Spring Call 2026 is part of the Eureka Network Cluster programme supporting collaborative, market-driven R&D projects in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). CELTIC-NEXT is dedicated to advancing next-generation communications for a secure, trusted, and sustainable digital society.

The Spring 2026 call is open from 1 December 2025 to 24 April 2026, inviting international consortia to submit ambitious R&D proposals across a broad ICT spectrum, including:

• 5G and 6G communications
• Network capacity and photonics
• Satellite systems and mobility
• Cybersecurity and resilience
• Energy-efficient networks
• IoT and smart cities
• Industry 4.0 and logistics
• Automotive telecommunications
• Blockchain and fintech
• e-Health and big data
• Privacy, digital identity and public safety

The programme follows a bottom-up approach, allowing proposers freedom to explore both evolutionary and disruptive innovation across all relevant ICT domains.

Call Timeline

• Call Opens: 1 December 2025
• Submission Deadline: 24 April 2026

International Eligibility Criteria

To apply, consortia must:

• Include at least two independent legal entities
• Include partners from at least two Eureka countries
• Develop an innovative product, process, or service aimed at commercialisation
• Focus exclusively on civilian applications
• Ensure no single country or organisation accounts for more than 70% of the total project budget

Projects must represent genuine international cooperation.

Participating Countries

Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye.

National Funding Information

Funding is managed nationally by each participating country’s funding authority. Below is a structured summary of available support:

Austria – FFG

• Small companies: up to 60% grant
• Medium companies: up to 50% grant
• Large companies: up to 50% (grant/loan mix)
• Universities/research organisations: up to 50% grant (varies by structure)

Belgium (Wallonia) – SPW Research

• Startups/small companies: up to 60%
• Medium companies: up to 50%
• Large companies: up to 40%
• Universities: may participate as subcontractors only
• Additional regional evaluation via ONTIME platform

Canada – NRC IRAP

• SMEs: up to 50%
• Large companies: not eligible
• Research institutions: funded indirectly via SMEs
• Canadian benefit assessment required

Czech Republic – MSMT

• Small companies: up to 80%
• Midcaps: up to 75%
• Large companies: up to 65%
• Universities: up to 100%
• Grant cap: 12 million CZK

Finland – Business Finland

• Small companies: up to 50%
• Medium & large companies: up to 40%
• Research institutions: up to 80%

France – Bpifrance

• Startups: up to 80% (loan)
• SMEs: up to 60% (loan)
• Max funding: €3 million
• Large companies and universities not directly eligible

Germany – BMFTR

• Small companies: up to 60%
• Medium companies: up to 50%
• Large companies: up to 40%
• Research institutions: up to 100%
• Must align with national research priorities

Hungary – NRDI

• SMEs: 60–80%
• Large companies: 25–75%
• Research institutions: up to 100% (non-economic activities)

Ireland – Enterprise Ireland / National Agencies

• Small companies: up to 60%
• Medium companies: up to 50%
• Large companies: up to 40%
• Research institutions: up to 100% (max €250k per organisation)

Israel – Israeli Innovation Authority

• SMEs: up to 50%
• Large companies: up to 50%
• Academic institutions participate as subcontractors

Poland – NCBR

• Small companies: up to 80% (research) / 70% (development)
• Large companies: up to 75% (research) / 50% (development)
• Universities: up to 100%
• Cap: 1–2 million PLN

Portugal – ANI

• Small companies: up to 80%
• Midcaps: up to 55%
• Large companies: not eligible
• Research institutions: up to 85%

Singapore – Enterprise Singapore

• SMEs: up to 50%
• Large companies: up to 30%
• Research institutions funded via enterprise partners

South Africa – Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)

• Startups: up to 75%
• SMEs: up to 70%
• Large companies: up to 50%
• Universities: up to 75%
• Research organisations: up to 60%
• Max grant: €300,000 per project
• SME-led projects prioritised
• Transformative targets (Black participants, women, youth) considered

South Korea

National funding details to be confirmed.

Spain – CDTI

• Loan up to 75% (85% in convergence regions)
• 25–30% non-repayable component
• Min budget €175,000
• Alternative INNOGLOBAL grants up to 80% (regional eligibility applies)

Sweden – Vinnova

• SMEs: up to 50%
• Large companies: up to 30%
• Research institutions: up to 100%
• Max: 15 million SEK

Türkiye – TÜBİTAK

• SMEs: up to 75%
• Large companies: up to 60%
• Universities participate as subcontractors

Evaluation Criteria

Projects are assessed on:

1. Impact (market potential, societal/environmental benefit)
2. Excellence (innovation level, technical challenge)
3. Implementation (consortium quality, planning, cost structure)
4. Overall perception by independent experts

Successful projects receive a Eureka label, followed by national funding evaluation.

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