Eureka - Eurostars

About this scheme

Eurostars is EUREKA's flagship international programme for SMEs wishing to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation, part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. A consortium must be led by an innovative SME and may involve large companies and research-performing organisations (RPOs). EUREKA itself does not fund projects directly; it evaluates the collaborative project plan, labels successful proposals as EUREKA-approved, and recommends them for national funding. It can be used to develop new products, processes or services for European and global markets, resolve technical challenges, pursue non-routine research and innovation, and represent a step-up in a company's RD&I capability. Following a positive EUREKA evaluation, Irish participants apply for national funding: Enterprise Ireland client companies apply through the Research & Development Fund, with grant rates of up to 60% of eligible costs for SMEs and up to 40% for large companies; research-performing organisations can receive up to 100% funding, capped at €250,000, where an Irish-based company participates in the consortium.

Who can apply

• EUREKA/international consortium requirements: project consortium led by an innovative SME (may involve large companies and RPOs); composed of at least two entities independent from one another, from at least two participating countries, with a minimum of one organisation from an EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country; budget of SMEs from participating countries (excluding subcontracting) must be 50% or more of total project cost; no single participant or country responsible for more than 70% of the project budget; project duration 36 months or less; exclusive focus on civil applications; all topic areas eligible
• National (Irish) funding eligibility - companies: must be a client of Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office, Údarás na Gaeltachta or IDA Ireland, trading internationally in manufacturing or an eligible services industry; project proposal must comply with national rules and regulations; Research & Development Fund grant rates are up to 60% of eligible project costs for SMEs and up to 40% for large companies; Enterprise Ireland HPSU clients do not normally qualify for the Research & Development Fund; client companies of other national agencies (e.g. Údarás na Gaeltachta, IDA Ireland) can be funded via those agencies' own programmes, with grant rates that vary
• National (Irish) funding eligibility - RPOs: researchers in RPOs are eligible for 100% funding up to a maximum of €250,000 to cover eligible expenditure, but only become eligible for funding if a company based in Ireland is participating in the consortium
• Applicants must have adequate cash resources to implement the proposed project; consortium members either self-fund or, if eligible, apply for national agency funding
• Participants must submit a national funding application before any work on the project starts

How to apply

1. 1Build or join an eligible international consortium and develop a Eurostars application; Irish participants should verify eligibility for national funding support in advance by contacting their Client Advisor, or the EUREKA National Project Co-ordinator (David.Flood@enterprise-ireland.com), before submitting a proposal to EUREKA
2. 2Submit the application directly to EUREKA via its online portal before the call deadline; EUREKA organises an independent, international evaluation of the proposal
3. 3If the proposal receives a positive evaluation, EUREKA awards it a label and recommends it for support at national level
4. 4Eligible Irish participants submit a national funding application before any project work starts: Enterprise Ireland client companies apply through the Research & Development Fund; research-performing organisations (RPOs) apply through the Enterprise Ireland International Research Fund; client companies of other national agencies should confirm eligibility and funding rates with the appropriate agency contact point
5. 5If approved, the company/RPO receives a Letter of Offer (Grant Agreement) confirming the grant title, Project Number, approved expenditure and Final Claim Date, and carries out the approved collaborative R&D project
6. 6Company/RPO refers to its Letter of Offer to identify the correct Research & Development Fund claim type (R&D Facility Grant Claim, R&D Revenue Grant Claim, or R&D Technology Acquisition Claim), completing a separate set of forms for each project where multiple grants are offered on the same Letter of Offer, and submits the claim to Enterprise Ireland for review and payment