The Eurostars programme is a joint initiative between the EUREKA network and the European Commission, specifically designed to support R&D-intensive SMEs developing innovative products, processes, or services for international commercialization. Launched in 2007, Eurostars now represents one of the most accessible and effective funding mechanisms for European SMEs engaged in disruptive innovation projects.
Within the European financing ecosystem, Eurostars occupies a strategic position as the benchmark program for international collaborative projects led by innovative SMEs. Unlike other European financing instruments such as Horizon Europe which can target large companies or academic consortia, Eurostars places innovative SMEs at the heart of its system.
Eurostars' strategic objectives are perfectly aligned with the European vision of open innovation and international competitiveness. The program aims to:
For the period 2021-2027, the Eurostars programme has an overall budget of approximately 1.2 billion euros, coming from both participating countries and the European Commission, demonstrating the European commitment to innovation driven by SMEs.
The directions that appeal to Eurostars financiers
The Eurostars program is distinguished by its great thematic flexibility while being part of a clear European strategic vision. This section details the preferred orientations and expected impacts of the funded projects, allowing you to better position your application and maximize its chances of success.
The Eurostars program is distinguished by its bottom-up approach, meaning it does not impose restrictive themes on applicants. This flexibility supports innovation across all technological and industrial sectors. However, certain areas traditionally see high participation rates:
Although Eurostars is open to all sectors, the programme pays particular attention to projects that:
Eurostars is fully in line with major European strategic guidelines, in particular:
Eurostars projects must demonstrate their potential to generate significant impacts:
Eurostars exclusively funds international collaborative projects which:
Typical project durations vary between 24 and 36 months, with a total budget generally ranging from €500,000 to €2 million.
Here are some illustrative examples of projects that have benefited from Eurostars funding:
Eurostars particularly supports projects which:
Although all sectors are eligible, the following areas are particularly well represented in the Eurostars project portfolio:
Support by MarketKaps
Marketkaps has extensive expertise in the Eurostars program, the result of many years of successfully supporting European SMEs. Our team includes active expert evaluators who are fully conversant with the evaluation criteria and the expectations of the Eurostars jury.
Our experts understand the intricacies of the program and can guide you through every step of the process, from the initial eligibility assessment to post-funding administrative management.
Our support approach for Eurostars follows a proven 5-step methodology:
Marketkaps offers complete or modular support according to your needs:
To be eligible for the Eurostars program, the consortium must meet the following conditions:
Eurostars mainly targets:
The Eurostars programme is open to organisations established in:
In total, more than 35 countries participate in the program, providing extensive opportunities for international collaboration.
Eurostars projects must meet several technical criteria:
Funding rates in Eurostars vary depending on the type of organization and the country, as funding is provided by national funding bodies:
For companies with more radical or higher-risk innovations, theEIC Accelerator can be an interesting alternative or complement to Eurostars, particularly for individual projects with high growth potential.
Funding ceilings also vary among participating countries:
Generally eligible cost categories include:
The Eurostars programme operates on the principle of co-financing:
Eurostars operates with a system of regular calls for projects:
The Eurostars application requires several key documents:
Marketkaps supports you in the preparation of each of these documents, ensuring their consistency and quality.
The Eurostars submission process includes the following steps:
Eurostars projects are evaluated according to three main axes:
Marketkaps optimizes your file to maximize your score on each of these criteria.
The Eurostars program has the following characteristics in terms of success rate:
Our experience has allowed us to identify the main errors that penalize applications:
Marketkaps optimizes your project before submission to maximize your chances of success.
The factors that make the difference in obtaining Eurostars financing are:
Our experience in supporting numerous Eurostars projects has enabled us to identify best practices:
FAQ about the Eurostars Eureka program
Yes, Eurostars is particularly suited to innovative start-ups, provided they meet the definition of an R&D-intensive SME (at least 10% of turnover or staff dedicated to R&D). A young company without a financial history will have to demonstrate its ability to co-finance its share of the project.
An SME is considered R&D-intensive if it devotes at least 10% of its turnover or 10% of its full-time equivalents (FTEs) to research and development activities. Marketkaps can help you validate this status and prepare the necessary supporting documents.
Yes, universities and research organizations can participate as partners in a Eurostars project, but cannot coordinate the consortium. Their participation is generally limited to 40% of the total project budget.
First-time deposits without professional support have a success rate of less than 15%. With Marketkaps' support, this rate rises to more than 60% even for a first deposit, thanks to our in-depth knowledge of the evaluation criteria.
The Eurostars evaluation follows a multi-step process:
The entire process takes approximately 4 months after the call closing date.
Yes, approximately 30% of funded projects are improved resubmissions. Marketkaps analyzes the evaluation report, identifies weaknesses, and restructures the proposal to maximize its chances of success upon resubmission. Our success rate exceeds 80% for the resubmissions we support.
Maximize your chances of success with our expertise
Marketkaps supports you every step of the way, from initial assessment to final submission, to maximize your chances of obtaining Eurostars financing.
Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions or to discuss your innovation project.
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