Eureka collaborative R&D: Globalstars Japan 2027

Key Features

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of £2 million for collaborative industrial research projects with partners from Japan and select Eureka countries.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £2 million

Opens: 7th Oct 2026

Closes: 20th Jan 2027

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Grant Overview

Innovate UK will invest up to £2 million to fund collaborative research and development projects that focus on industrial research. This competition is for UK businesses that want to apply to the Globalstars Japan 2027 Eureka call.

Grant Scope

The aim of this competition is to fund business-led, collaborative research and development projects focussed on industrial research. This competition is for innovative proposals developed between the UK, Japan and other Eureka participating countries. Innovate UK will be funding UK partners only.

Projects must have high-market potential and focus on one of more of the following specific themes:

  • Semiconductors
  • Quantum
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cyber Security
  • Advanced Connectivity Technologies
  • Biotechnology (including Engineering Biology)
  • Space

 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this competition UK applicants can apply for a total grant of up to £600,000 for each project. Projects can last up to 3 years with the expected start date of 1st August 2027. Only eligible project costs can be included in your application. Projects must be collaborative.

Eureka terminology and roles: The terminology differs between Eureka and Innovate UK. In the Innovate UK application the ‘project lead’ is responsible for the whole project but Eureka uses the term ‘main participant’. For partners in the collaboration Eureka uses the term ‘other participants’. Even if the project lead is from a participating Eureka member other than the UK, the UK registered partners can still claim funding from Innovate UK. These collaborations must include at least one UK registered business of any size.

UK lead applicant: UK registered partners in your Eureka project must nominate one business of any size to start an Innovate UK application. To lead the application must start the application, monitor the partners application process, make sure all UK partners complete their parts of the application and submit the application once it is completed. The UK lead must collaborate with at least one SME from Japan participating in the competition.

Overall Eureka project team: The organisations from participating Eureka members must meet the funding and eligibility conditions of their respective national funding bodies. Each partner must carry out the majority of their funded work within the Eureka member from which they received funding. No more than 70% of the total eligible project costs can be claimed by a single partner or by all partners from a single participating Eureka member collectively.

UK project team: The UK lead applicant can also collaborate with other UK registered businesses of any size or other UK registered research organisations. UK research organisations cannot lead or work alone.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are allowed in this competition, but they must not account for more than 20% of the UK partners’ total eligible costs. Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK. Overseas subcontractors can be used but you must state why UK subcontractors could not be used in your application.

Partners not claiming funding: A non-grant claiming UK partner cannot lead on a project.

Number of applications: A business can only lead on one application but can be included as a collaborator in a further 2 applications. An RTO not leading any application can collaborate in any number of applications. Academic institutions can collaborate on any number of applications.

Previous applications: Previously submitted applications can be used in this competition.

Grant Exclusions

Innovate UK will not fund the following projects:

  • Projects that work on non-civilian technologies
  • Projects not in scope or meet Innovate UK’s eligibility criteria
  • Projects that have not submitted all mandatory documentation
  • Projects that do not include at least one UK registered business and one eligible Japanese SME as a minimum
  • Projects with a grant request of more than £600,000
  • Projects that pose a risk to the Uk’s national security, economic security or strategic interests

Funding Costs

Innovate UK has allocated up to £2 million to fund innovation projects. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

For industrial research projects, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

  • up to 70% if you are a micro or small business
  • up to 60% if you are a medium sized business
  • up to 50% if you are a large business

The UK registered research organisations in your consortium can share up to 30% of the UK total eligible project costs:

  • 100% of your eligible project costs if you are an RTO or research organisation
  • 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are an academic institution

Eligibility criteria for claiming 80% of FEC funding

  1. Research organisations must use the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) method as the Je-S form has now been decommissioned.
  2. We pay 100% of the 80% Full Economic Cost (FEC). On IFS only enter the 80% being claimed.

To find out more see our: Cost Guidance for Academics.

If your consortium contains more than one UK research organisation, this maximum will be shared between them.

For further information on this competition, please see full details.

Full competition details