EUREKA-Eurostars proposal writing in 2 months – a practical application roadmap
19th January 2026 at 11:59 am
With the Eurostars Call 10 deadline on 19 March 2026, EUREKA-Eurostars gives applicants two months to prepare a competitive proposal. This blog breaks down what you must submit, what to prepare internally and how to structure the work week by week. Use our step-by-step timeline to stay compliant, avoid last-minute issues and submit on time.
Eurostars gives you two months: plan it like a project
Eurostars applications are submitted via the EUREKA Project Management Platform, and applicants typically have around two months from call opening to the deadline to register and submit. Two months can be enough, but only if you treat proposal writing like a structured delivery process, with clear responsibilities, decision points, and early preparation of the mandatory forms. Based on what we see in real submissions, the most common risks are:
- starting too late with the mandatory legal documents
- underestimating internal alignment time (budget, partner inputs, signatures)
- leaving the final proposal narrative and annexes until the last two weeks
This blog provides a practical roadmap for writing a Eurostars application within two months: what you must submit, and how to organise the work step by step.
What you must submit: required application elements and documents
A complete Eurostars application requires an online submission in the EUREKA platform, plus mandatory legal documents that must be signed and uploaded.
1) Online application form (core proposal content)
The Eurostars application is structured around three main evaluation sections: Impact, Excellence and Quality and efficiency of implementation. Each section is assessed by independent reviewers against defined criteria and sub-criteria, with equal weighting.
2) Mandatory signed documents (templates provided by EUREKA)
These documents must be prepared and signed by an authorised legal representative, then uploaded to the application platform.
- SME Declaration form confirms the enterprise qualification as an SME and is checked by the National Funding Body.
- Commitment and Signature form required for all consortium members, irrespective of organisation type. Confirms authorisation and key declarations for participation.
- Self-funding declaration form (if applicable) required if a partner participates without requesting national funding.
- Financial annex: In some countries, SMEs are required to provide financial reports, a business plan (if you are a start-up), or other financial documents. This needs to be checked with the national Eurostars contacts.
Resubmission note: If you are resubmitting, you cannot reopen an old proposal. You must register a new application, which creates a new project ID and requires the mandatory documents to be updated and signed again.
3) Optional but strongly recommended annexes
Eurostars allows optional attachments that can strengthen clarity and credibility. accelopment recommends using them wherever they improve reviewer understanding.
- Gantt chart: A visual schedule of tasks, durations, and dependencies. Helpful for reviewers to quickly understand feasibility and planning.
- Technical annex (max. 10 pages): Used to add details not fully addressed in the main application, and to include visuals such as figures, tables, and diagrams.
A 2-month Eurostars writing timeline: step-by-step approach
A disciplined submission plan usually follows six phases. The table below is designed to be copied into your internal planning docs and aligned with your proposal lead’s working calendar.
This sequence reflects the practical reality that Eurostars is assessed on Impact, Excellence, and Implementation, and that applicants must also deliver mandatory signed forms in parallel.
Practical tips to avoid last-minute issues
- Treat signatures as a critical path item: The mandatory forms are simple in content but often slow to complete due to authorisation and internal workflows. Start them early, especially in multinational consortia.
- Use the technical annex to improve reviewer comprehension: Eurostars proposals are concise, and reviewers assess many applications in a short time. A well-structured technical annex can make your application easier to evaluate and reduce misinterpretation.
- If resubmitting, rebuild from scratch but reuse reviewer feedback: Because resubmissions require a new application registration, plan for manual re-entry of platform fields. The advantage is that you can systematically address past reviewer feedback and present a stronger proposal.
- Allocate time for national funding checks: Eurostars is co-funded at European and national level, but funding rules vary across countries and are administered by each partner’s National Funding Body. Country-specific rules can affect eligibility, cost eligibility, and funding rates.
How accelopment supports Eurostars applicants
At accelopment, we support organisations across the full Eurostars proposal lifecycle, from early idea development to submission and follow-up. Our team specialises in international R&D funding and collaborative project design, with a particular focus on innovation-driven SMEs and research-performing organisations. We support applicants in:
- structuring a strong, market-oriented project aligned with Eurostars evaluation criteria
- building balanced and compliant international consortia
- translating technical excellence into a clear commercialisation and impact narrative
- ensuring compliance with eligibility, budgeting, and national funding rules
- managing proposal writing and submission processes efficiently
Our experience includes successful Eurostars proposals such as FP-Catheter, AirToxMonitor, and the recently approved ASCEND project, as well as a broader track record, including OPTO-BRAIN, MAXCOAT, NoCaTS, sus@pension, MiniLib, and RETWood.
If you are preparing a Eurostars submission and want to maximise your chances of success, we recommend starting at call opening with a structured two-month plan and early document preparation. If you would like expert support with proposal writing, review or full submission management, please contact us to discuss your project and timeline.
Dr. Johannes Ripperger
Research & Innovation Manager
Yannic Fechtig
Innovation & Digitalisation Associate