The EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to SMEs.
Eurostars will stimulate SME's to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding. Providing funding and support for market-oriented research and development specifically with the active participation of R&D-performing SMEs [The Eurostars definition of research performing SMEs is a company that invests 10% or more of turnover or full-time equivalent to research activities].
In proposing Eurostars the Eureka network seeks to overcome one of the barriers to the implementation of high-quality SME-led transnational R&D projects, the lack of guaranteed public-sector funding. Eurostars takes a ‘bottom-up' approach to project generation. Projects can address any technological area and should be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service.
Eurostars is open to all sectors (except military technology) for funding applications on a continuous basis until 2013.
Eurostars call for proposals
Current call - click here for more information
Next cut off date for proposals, Thursday 30 September 2010 Central European Time 20.00 -UK time 19.00
To receive all information on the Eurostars 2010 call register on the Eurostars website, www.Eurostars-eureka.eu.
UK participants in a successful Eurostars project are funded through the Technology Strategy Board whilst other EU partners are funded via their own national funding bodies.
Under the UK EUREKA Eurostars rules only innovative intensive and research performing SME's are eligible for 50% funding of eligible project costs, up to a maximum grant of 300,000 Euros per UK participant in any single project. Academics and large companies are welcome to participate in Eurostars projects, but funding has to be secured from other sources.
UK Eligibility Criteria
- Companies must have been trading for over 12 months.
- Companies must have commercial income* of twice the value of any grant requested or provide the Technology Strategy Board with evidence [prior to application] that the company have the funds to cover the 50% industry contribution and also to exploit the expected project outputs to outcomes.
* The commercial income cannot include grants from the UK and/or the European Union.
- Participants in a Eurostars project must be separate legal entities.
- UK lead projects must be managed by a project partner and an SME as per the Eurostars criteria.
- All expenditure from the UK grant must be spent in the UK, including subcontracting.
- Subcontracting from the UK budget is capped at 20%.
Please view related documents on the bottom left of this page for further information.
It is highly recommended that you contact the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Eurostars funding body, to check your eligibility under the UK rules.
To find out more contact
Graham M Mobbs
European Operations Manager
Technology Strategy Board
graham.mobbs@tsb.gov.uk