Eurostars Call 6 now open for applications: the latest information

The sixth Eurostars call is now open for applications. This article provides you with the latest information concerning this call based on the “Eurostars Call 6 – Webinar for applicants” from Eureka of January 11, 2024. Read more about the main conditions to participate, the eligibility criteria and the timeline and evaluation process.

Main conditions for Eurostars projects

Eureka Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs collaborating on R&D-projects to create innovative products, processes or services that can be rapidily commercialised. Eurostars projects should be collaborative and international with a market driven focus. Any technological and market areas are eligilble to apply. The guideline (not a eligility criteria) for a suitable TRL level is between 3-4, with a TLR of 6-7 at the end of the Eurostars project. In case of biotechnology, biomedical or medical project, clinical trials must start rapidly after the end of the project. Eurostars projects have on average 3 to 4 participants (minimum of 2 participants) and average total costs of € 1.4 Million.

Eurostars eligibility criteria

All types of organisations can participate in Eurostars, including SMEs, large companies, research institutes, universities etc. However, SMEs are the main target of the program and should be included in the consortium. Organisations based in Eurostars countries can acquire funding. Organisations not based in Eurostars countries can participate in a Eurostars project on a self-funding basis. Other important eligibility criteria are:

1. The project is led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country;
2. The consortium includes at least two independent entities;
3. The project consortium is composed of entities from at least two Eurostars countries with at least one organisation coming from an EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country;
4. The budget of the SMEs from Eurostars countries (excluding subcontracting) must be at least 50% of the total project budget;
5. No single participant or country is responsible for more than 70% of the total project budget;
6. The project duration is 36 months or less;
7. The project has an exclusively civilian purpose.

All eligibility criteria are equally important and should be adhered to en order to pass the eligibility check. The project application must comply with all eligibility criteria from when you submit until you sign your consortium agreement (approximately five to six month later). During the evaluation process, you must inform Eurostars of any new information that may affect the eligibility.

Timeline and evaluation process of Eurostars call 6

Eurostars call 6 is open for applications from 12 January until 14 March 2024. The evaluation process takes up around 3 months and consists of the following phases:

• Eligibility check: Within one week of application deadline
• Remote evaluation and legal and financial viability check: Late April 2024 (Importantly, if one or more of the organisations in your consortium do not pass the legal and financial viability check, your project application will be rejected)
• Ethics review and independent evaluation panel: Early June 2024
• Funding results: First half of June 2024

If your project is awarded funding, the consortium agreement must be submitted within 6 weeks after receiving the funding results in order to start the project.

Support Eurostars application

Would you like more information about this call? Or do you need support for writing or evaluating your Eurostars application? Our specialists have a lot of experience and knowledge about this European funding opportunity and are happy to help you. Send an email to info@hezelburcht.com or call directly to +31 85 048 32 42.

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