Eurostars call 11: opportunity for innovative SMEs with international R&D collaboration
This summer, Eurostars call 11 will open: an attractive funding opportunity for innovative SMEs working with international partners on the research and development of products, processes or services with a civil application. The programme supports organisations aiming to accelerate these innovations towards market readiness while taking the step into international collaboration. Applications for this call can be submitted from 9 July 2026 until 10 September 2026.
International collaboration as a driver for innovation
Eurostars is part of the Eureka network and is co-funded by the European Commission. The programme specifically targets SMEs that take a leading role in R&D projects with clear commercial potential. The strength of Eurostars lies in its international collaboration. Projects are carried out by consortia consisting of at least two independent partners from different participating countries. Within this collaboration, the SME plays a central role: it leads the project and carries out a substantial part of the research. This structure not only stimulates technological development, but also promotes knowledge exchange and access to new markets. For many companies, Eurostars therefore represents a strategic step towards international growth.
National funding as a determining factor
Although Eurostars projects are evaluated at an international level, funding is ultimately provided through national grant providers. This means that available budgets, funding rates and additional conditions may differ per country. This requires careful consideration when forming a consortium. For example, in Eurostars call 10, Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy did not have available budgets, meaning partners from these countries could only participate using their own resources. For Eurostars call 11, it has not yet been confirmed whether these and/or other countries will make funding available.
Want to apply for Eurostars call 11?
Eurostars call 11 offers significant opportunities for innovative SMEs looking to collaborate internationally on R&D projects. At the same time, the combination of international evaluation and national funding makes the programme complex. Hezelburcht supports organisations throughout the entire process, from assessing funding opportunities and shaping a strong consortium to preparing and submitting a competitive application. Are you considering applying for Eurostars call 11 and want to maximise your chances of success? Please contact us at info@hezelburcht.com, call 088 495 20 00 or fill in the contact form.
