European Partnership on Innovative SMEs/Eurostars: joint transnational call for proposals (Call 12 of Eurostars-3)

¿De qué trata esta convocatoria?

The call funds international collaborative R&D and innovation projects in any field that lead to marketable products, processes or services. Consortia are led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country and may include large companies, universities, research organisations and other organisations.

¿Qué financia esta convocatoria?

Scope

Eurostars, part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs and co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe, supports innovative SMEs and their project partners by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects in all fields. Projects aim to develop products, processes or services that can be easily commercialised, and must focus exclusively on civil applications.

Funding arrangements

The funding each organisation receives is managed by its national funding body. Rules differ between countries: the national body decides which organisations and activities can be funded and at what rates, and may set a maximum amount per project or partner. Organisations from non-Eurostars countries can take part by funding their own costs.

Project criteria

• The budget of SMEs from Eurostars countries (excluding subcontracting) is 50% or more of the total project cost.
• No single participant or country accounts for more than 70% of the project budget.
• The project lasts 36 months or less; an extension may be allowed after the start if justified and approved by the Eureka Secretariat and the national funding bodies.

Application

Applicants are advised to contact their national or regional funding body first. The leading SME opens the application on the project platform and invites partners; the form is completed in English with annexes such as a signed commitment and signature form, an SME declaration where relevant, and, depending on the country, financial annexes. Organisations not requesting public funding add a self-funding declaration.

Evaluation

Independent experts score proposals on excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. The best 200 projects go to an Independent Evaluation Panel; funding decisions are expected by mid-June 2027, with national agreements targeted five to seven months after the deadline.

¿Cuándo termina el plazo?

Applications can be submitted from 17 December 2026 until 4 March 2027, 14:00 Brussels time.