Non-dilutive funding for start-up companies and SMEs – new EUREKA-Eurostars call open in January 2026
19th December 2025 at 11:12 am
Eurostars is a well-established European funding instrument designed to support research and innovation projects with a strong market orientation. It primarily targets innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while enabling collaboration with other key actors, including large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations.
The programme supports R&D and innovation projects in all thematic fields and industry sectors, provided that they aim to develop new products, processes or services with clear commercial potential. A defining feature of Eurostars is its emphasis on international collaboration, allowing organisations to combine complementary expertise across borders while accessing public funding for their innovation activities.
The upcoming Eurostars call opens on 16 January 2026, with a submission deadline of 19 March 2026. Proposals must be submitted via the Eureka project platform.
How is Eurostars funded?
Eurostars is jointly supported at the European and national levels. The European Commission provides co-funding to the programme, while the actual funding received by each project partner is administered by their respective National Funding Body. The funding rules are defined at national level and therefore vary from country to country. National Funding Bodies determine:
- Which organisations are eligible for funding.
- Which project activities and cost categories can be funded.
- Applicable funding rates and possible funding ceilings per project or per partner.
Applicants from Eurostars countries are strongly encouraged to consult the national funding conditions relevant to their organisation and to contact their National Funding Body early in the proposal preparation phase. Organisations from non-Eurostars countries may participate in consortia on a self-funded basis.
Who can apply?
Eurostars projects must comply with a set of international eligibility criteria. In summary:
- The project consortium must be led by an innovative SME based in a Eurostars country.
- The consortium must include at least two independent entities.
- Partners must come from at least two Eurostars countries, with at least one organisation established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.
- SMEs from Eurostars countries must account for at least 50 per cent of the total project budget, excluding subcontracting.
- No single participant or country may represent more than 70 per cent of the total project budget.
- The project duration must not exceed 36 months.
- The project must focus exclusively on civil applications.
Furthermore, applicants are advised to consult the detailed Eurostars guidelines for definitions and clarifications and to assess their financial viability at an early stage to ensure they have the capacity to carry their share of the project costs.
How accelopment supports Eurostars applicants
At accelopment, we support organisations throughout the entire Eurostars proposal lifecycle, from early idea development to submission and follow-up. Our team brings extensive experience in international R&D funding and collaborative project design, with a particular focus on innovation-driven SMEs and research-performing organisations. We assist applicants in:
- Structuring a strong, market-oriented project concept aligned with Eurostars evaluation criteria.
- Building balanced and compliant international consortia.
- Translating scientific and technological excellence into a clear commercialisation and impact narrative.
- Ensuring compliance with eligibility, budgetary and national funding rules.
- Managing timelines, proposal writing and submission processes efficiently.
Based on our team’s extensive experience from previous successful applications, such as FP-Catheter, AirToxMonitor and the recently approved ASCEND project, our hands-on proposal support and in-depth knowledge of European and national funding frameworks, we can help applicants maximise their chances of success in the highly-rewarding Eurostars programme.
Dr. Johannes Ripperger
Research & Innovation Manager
Yannic Fechtig
Innovation & Digitalisation Associate