Eurostars Eurostars supports international innovative projects led by research and development (R&D) performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim of the programme is to support the development of rapidly marketable innovative products, processes and services. Eurostars is the only European funding programme that is specifically dedicated to support R&D-performing SMEs in their innovative R&D projects. Eurostars involves over 35 participating states and partner countries. All of them are members of EUREKA, which manages the Eurostars programme. Participation Consortia planning to participate in Eurostars reply to calls for project proposals. Eurostars issues calls for proposals with 2 annual deadlines. As Eurostars is a joint European research programme: the evaluation of project proposals is centralised (European) the funding is organised at the national level (in Luxembourg, through Luxinnovation and the National Research Fund) Eligibility criteria Any company and any private or public research organisation can potentially participate in a Eurostars project, provided the project is taken forward by an SME. To be eligible, projects must notably fulfil the following criteria: have an R&D-performing SME from a Eurostars country as the project leader involve at least two partners that are independent from one another from at least two different Eurostars member countries feature strong SME involvement: assign at least 50% of the project's R&D activity to SMEs be market-driven: the project cannot exceed a duration of three years and the project's outcomes must be introduced to the market within two years from the end of the project involve a balanced partnership: individual project partners or member countries may not bear more than 75% of the cost fulfil the selection criteria of the EUREKA programme Additional details are included in Eurostars' eligibility guidelines for applications. Funding The co-funding model involves funds from the European Commission and financial support granted by the participating member countries. The Luxembourg government has made the commitment to set aside €600,000 per year, complemented by European cofunding, to finance the national participations shortlisted by Eurostars. Public co-funding for private-sector entities is provided in line with the Law of 17 May 2017 (maximum aid intensities: 60% for a small enterprise, 50% for a medium-sized enterprise, 40% for a large enterprise) For public research organisations, co-funding can reach a level of 100% If the project proposal is evaluated favourably by the European experts, companies and private research organisations must submit their request for financial support to Luxinnovation, which provides further guidelines. Public research organisations must submit their request for financial support to the National Research Fund. Prospective applicants preparing project proposals are advised to contact Luxinnovation, the National Contact Point for Eurostars in Luxembourg, for free assistance. Companies can also apply for financial support for the preparation of a Eurostars project, through Fit4Horizon2020.
