Eureka Eurostars 2: round 14

Key Features

UK SMEs can apply for a share of up to £2.5 million to collaborate in research with partners across Europe and associated countries.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £2.5 million

Opens: 27th Jul 2020

Closes: 3rd Sep 2020

! This scheme is now closed

Overview

This competition is aimed at micro, small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working on high-quality research and development (R&D) projects across national borders.

These enterprises often find it difficult to attract public-sector funding. EUREKA Eurostars was set up to overcome this barrier to innovation. With its market-led approach, it encourages international collaborative research and innovation projects that will be rapidly commercialised.

Eurostars supports SMEs in leading international collaborative research and innovation projects by helping them get access to guidance and funding.

Scope

Eurostars is a European funding programme dedicated to supporting R&D performing SMEs in innovative R&D projects.

It has a market-driven approach, which gives companies full control over project content. It also supports collaborative research and innovation projects that can go to market 2 years after the project finishes.

You can apply for Eurostars funding for any sector or industry. It can address any technological area but must be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service.

Your project must have a civilian purpose. It cannot have a military purpose.

 
Book a 30-minute consultation

Our team are available to discuss your innovative business, your project ideas and how we can help you to write a successful application for this Grant Funding opportunity.

Use the calendar to select and book a consultation with one of our experts, at a time that’s convenient for you.

Eligibility

In the UK, only UK registered research-performing SMEs are eligible for funding. More than one UK SME can be involved in each project.

Each of the UK research-performing SMEs must meet one of these conditions:

  • invest 10% or more of their turnover into research
  • have 10% of their full-time equivalent staff working on research activities
  • have 5 or more full-time staff working on research activities if the SME has 100 or fewer employees
  • have 10 or more full-time staff working on research activities if the SME has more than 100 employees

Innovate UK will not fund any other types of organisations, including:

  • academic institutions, including universities
  • research and technology organisations (RTOs)
  • charities
  • large companies

These organisations can take part but must self-fund or use funds from other sources.

You must follow the Eurostars eligibility criteria and the Innovate UK criteria detailed in this competition at the application deadline and throughout your project:

  1. UK SMEs can only take part in one Eurostars project at a time.
  2. If any UK partner has an existing project, it must declare that all project deliverables are met. You cannot apply for new Eurostars projects until your previous projects have been completed.
  3. UK partners must be separate, non-linked legal entities.
  4. UK partners must have been trading for 12 months at the competition application deadline.
  5. All work must be carried out in the UK and your project costs must be incurred in the UK.
  6. UK subcontracting is capped at 20% of the UK partners’ total eligible costs.
  7. UK-led projects must be managed by a research and development (R&D) performing SME. You cannot subcontract project management.
  8. Your labour costs must be on a pay as you earn (PAYE) basis, following the PAYE rules below.

Funding Costs

We have allocated up to £2.5 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

Eurostars will award up to 360,000 euros funding for each UK project partner or 60% of eligible project costs, whichever is the least.