Eurostars
Open-call snapshot checked 2026-04-18
Eurostars is a funding programme for research-and-development-performing SMEs that lead international collaborative innovation projects. It is run through the Eureka network and co-funded under Horizon Europe, with funding paid by national agencies.
What makes Eurostars different
Eurostars is bottom-up: there are no fixed topics. An SME proposes whatever international R&D project fits its roadmap, as long as it leads to a commercial product, process, or service. This makes it a good fit for companies whose innovation does not map cleanly onto a Horizon Europe call topic.
Projects are smaller and faster to set up than large Horizon Europe consortia, and the application is lighter.
Who is eligible
The project must be led by an SME that performs R&D and is based in a Eurostars country. A project needs at least two participating entities from at least two different countries, and no single participant or country can account for the majority of the budget.
Funding is provided by each partner's own national or regional funding body, so rates and rules vary by country. Partners apply jointly but are funded nationally.
When to choose Eurostars
Eurostars suits an SME that already has an international partner — a customer, supplier, or research collaborator — and a concrete development project. If a company has no partner yet, or its project fits a named Horizon Europe topic, a different route may score better. A grant specialist can help judge which programme to target first.
Open Eurostars calls
These Eurostars calls are open in the current index snapshot, soonest deadline first. fundingme.eu tracks the EU Funding & Tenders Portal continuously — run a free match to see everything open today and how your company fits.
No Eurostars calls appear in the current index snapshot. Calls open and close throughout the year — run a free match to check what is live today.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a typical Eurostars project?
Eurostars projects are modest compared with Horizon Europe consortia — often in the range of roughly €1 to €1.5 million in total cost across the partners, run over up to three years. The exact figure depends on the work plan.
Who pays for a Eurostars project?
Each partner is funded by its own national or regional funding agency. Funding rates and eligible-cost rules therefore differ from country to country, even within the same project.
Does Eurostars have call topics?
No. Eurostars is bottom-up — the company defines the project. It only needs to be a genuine R&D project with a clear market-oriented outcome and an international partnership.