Eurostars Call 11 Now Open | International R&D Funding for Innovative SMEs and Research Partners

Applications are now open for Eurostars Call 11, an international funding programme supporting collaborative research, development and innovation (R&D&I) projects led by innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Eurostars forms part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe, and is one of the world's largest international funding instruments dedicated to helping innovative SMEs develop commercially viable products, services and technologies through international collaboration.

The programme enables innovative SMEs to partner with companies, universities, research institutions and other organisations across multiple countries to accelerate research, commercialisation and market expansion.

Why this opportunity matters

Unlike many research grants that primarily support scientific research, Eurostars is specifically designed for market-driven innovation.

Projects should result in:

• New products
• Innovative services
• New industrial processes
• Commercial technologies with international market potential

The programme encourages organisations to combine complementary expertise, share technical capabilities and jointly develop innovations that can compete in global markets.

Eligible Countries

Organisations from the following Eurostars countries are eligible to participate and apply for public funding through their respective national funding bodies:

• Austria
• Belgium (Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia)
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Türkiye
• United Kingdom

Organisations from countries outside the Eurostars network may also participate through self-funding arrangements.

Who should apply?

Eurostars is suitable for:

• Innovative SMEs
• Large companies
• Universities
• Public research institutions
• Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
• Innovation centres
• Commercialisation partners

An innovative SME from a Eurostars country must lead every consortium.

Consortium Requirements

Projects must meet the following international eligibility requirements:

• Be led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country.
• Include at least two independent organisations.
• Include organisations from at least two Eurostars countries, with at least one participant from an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• SMEs from Eurostars countries must account for 50% or more of the total project budget (excluding subcontracting).
• No single participant or country may account for more than 70% of the project budget.
• Projects must have a duration of 36 months or less.
• Projects must focus exclusively on civilian applications.

Funding

Funding is not provided directly by Eurostars.

Instead, each successful organisation receives funding from its own National Funding Body, meaning:

• Funding rates vary by country.
• Eligible project activities vary by country.
• Maximum funding amounts are determined nationally.
• Applicants should consult their National Funding Body before submitting an application.

Application Process

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Contact their National Funding Body to discuss eligibility and funding.
• Build an international consortium led by an innovative SME.
• Create an application through the Eurostars online project platform.
• Complete the application in English.
• Submit all required supporting documentation, including commitment forms, SME declarations and any country-specific financial documentation.
• Submit the final application before the deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed by independent experts based on:

Quality of implementation

• Consortium quality
• Project planning
• Cost effectiveness
• International collaboration

Impact

• Commercialisation strategy
• Market opportunity
• Competitive advantage
• Economic, environmental and societal benefits

Excellence

• Innovation
• Technical quality
• New knowledge creation
• Technical feasibility and risk management

Important Dates

Applications Open
9 July 2026

Application Deadline
10 September 2026 (14:00 Brussels Time)

Eligibility Checks
Within one week after the deadline

Independent Expert Evaluation
Mid-October 2026

Evaluation Panel
End of November 2026

Funding Results
Expected by mid-December 2026

Click HERE to visit the official website.