Eurostars September 2026: Everything SMEs Need to Know About the Next Eureka Eurostars Deadline
The next Eureka Eurostars programme deadline is 10 September 2026 — and for SMEs planning to apply, preparation cannot wait until summer.
The Eureka Eurostars programme is the world’s largest international R&D funding initiative led by innovative SMEs, with an average project budget of €1.5 million and participation from 37 countries. The September 2026 cut-off (Call 11) will open from 9 July to 10 September 2026. Competition is intensifying: around 500 applications are received per call, and only approximately 100 projects are funded.
At Evolution Europe, we have achieved a high success rate across Eureka Eurostars calls. Here is everything you need to know to build a competitive proposal for September.
What Is the Eureka Eurostars Programme?
The Eureka Eurostars programme is a European funding initiative within the Eureka Network, co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe as part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. It funds collaborative, market-driven R&D projects led by innovative SMEs from proof-of-concept stage (TRL 4–6) through to validated prototype (TRL 7).
Unlike programmes that have specific challenges or are sector-specific, Eurostars is fully bottom-up: there are no predefined thematic priorities. SMEs from any civilian technology sector — medtech, agritech, advanced manufacturing, software, cleantech, and more can apply.
Programme at a glance:
- 37 participating countries — all EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, the UK, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, and South Africa
- €1.6 billion overall programme budget for 2021–2027
- ~€1.5 million average project budget
- Up to 36 months project duration
- Market entry expected within 24 months after project completion
- 29% average success rate — the highest of any major EU R&D grant programme
Eurostars Call 11 — September 2026 Key Dates
The 11th Eurostars call is open from 9 July 2026 and closes on 10 September 2026 at 14:00 CET, with applications submitted via myeurekaproject.org. This is the second and final call of 2026 — the previous cut-off (Call 10) closed on 19 March 2026.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call opens | 9 July 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 September 2026, 14:00 CET |
| Eligibility check | Within 1 week after deadline |
| Legal & financial check | ~7 weeks after deadline |
| Expert evaluation | ~13 weeks after deadline |
| Funding decision | ~16 weeks after deadline |
| National funding agreements | 5–7 months after deadline |
💡 Tip: At Evolution Europe, we begin working with clients a minimum of 2 months before each cut-off. For September, that means starting in July — ideally now.
Who Can Apply? Eurostars Eligibility Explained
The Eurostars programme is built around collaborative international consortia. These are the core eligibility requirements:
Consortium requirements:
- At least 2 independent entities from 2 different Eurostars countries, with at least one from an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country
- The project coordinator must be an innovative SME based in a Eurostars country
- SMEs must collectively account for at least 50% of the project budget (excluding subcontracting)
- No single partner or country may receive more than 70% of the total budget
Project requirements:
- Starting TRL: 4–6 (proof of concept to laboratory-validated prototype)
- Target TRL: 7 or above (system prototype in operational environment)
- Exclusively civilian applications
- Clear commercialisation plan with market entry within 24 months of project completion
Funding rates vary by country and organisation type, typically covering 20–80% of eligible costs. Eligible costs include personnel, subcontracting, equipment, travel, consumables, and overheads. All funding is channelled through National Funding Bodies (NFBs) — rules and maximum amounts differ significantly between countries.
Not sure whether your company qualifies as an SME? The European Commission’s SME definition sets out the precise headcount and financial thresholds, worth confirming early.
⚠️ Country alert: For Call 10, countries including Israel and Italy (MIMIT) had no allocated national budget. Always confirm budget availability with your National Funding Body before committing consortium partners. Check the Eureka Network country information page for Call 11 specifics.
What Makes a Winning Eurostars Proposal in 2026?
The Eurostars evaluation framework scores proposals across three equally weighted pillars, each rated from 0 to 6:
1. Excellence
Evaluators assess the degree of innovation, technical ambition, and how clearly your project advances beyond the current state of the art. Incremental improvements presented as disruptive breakthroughs are one of the most common reasons for low scores. Innovation claims must be backed by evidence — not just asserted.
2. Impact
This pillar covers market potential, commercialisation plans, competitive advantage, and the economic and societal value the project will deliver. Weak market validation — or a vague route to market — is increasingly penalised. Evaluators want a plausible, data-backed commercialisation logic, not aspirational language.
3. Quality & Efficiency of Implementation
Consortium structure, work plan clarity, task distribution, and budget realism all fall here. A well-balanced consortium — where each partner contributes genuinely complementary expertise — is a decisive differentiator. So is a realistic, well-justified cost structure.
The lesson from recent calls: evaluators are looking for coherence across all three pillars. A compelling idea paired with a poorly structured consortium or an implausible market strategy will not score highly.
How to Prepare: A Practical Roadmap for Eurostars Call 11
Given the 10 September deadline, here is a realistic preparation timeline:
Now — May to June 2026
- Confirm your project concept and TRL trajectory
- Check your eligibility as an innovative SME (typically 10%+ of turnover or staff dedicated to R&D)
- Identify potential consortium partners: SMEs, universities, or R&D centres in other Eurostars countries
- Verify your country’s national funding conditions and budget availability
- Contact a consultancy for an initial eligibility assessment
July 2026 — Call Opens
- Register on myeurekaproject.org
- Finalise consortium agreements and budget framework
- Begin drafting the technical description and work plan
August 2026
- Complete and review all proposal sections
- Align with partners on budget allocation and national annexes
- Run an internal quality check
Early September 2026
- Final revisions
- Submit before 10 September 2026 at 14:00 CET
How Evolution Europe Supports Your Eurostars Application
Preparing a competitive Eurostars projects application demands expertise across technical, financial, and strategic dimensions simultaneously. At Evolution Europe, our team of PhDs, engineers, and finance experts supports SMEs across the entire project lifecycle:
Opportunity scouting & eligibility check We assess your project idea, confirm eligibility, and identify whether the Eureka Eurostars programme is the optimal fit — or whether a related instrument such as Eureka Globalstars or Eureka Innowwide, or other funding programmes might be better suited to your objectives.
Consortium building & partner search We help you identify and connect with suitable international partners across the 37 Eurostars countries — ensuring a balanced, complementary consortium that meets programme requirements.
Full proposal writing We draft and refine every section of your submission: technical narrative, work packages, impact and commercialisation case, budget structure, and national annexes — all calibrated to evaluator expectations.
Submission & grant agreement We manage the full submission process and coordinate with National Funding Bodies. After approval, we support contract negotiation, documentation, and budget alignment.
Project management We continue supporting you throughout project execution — monitoring deliverables, preparing technical and financial reports, and guiding fund disbursement.
Our track record: 70% success rate across Eurostars calls, compared to the 29% programme average. We have worked on 700+ R&D business plans across 30+ countries.
Discover our Eurostars success stories
Is Eurostars the Right Programme for Your SME?
The Eureka Eurostars programme is a strong match if your company:
- Performs or plans applied R&D at TRL 4–6, with a target of TRL 7+ by project end
- Is developing a specific product, process, or service aimed at commercial launch within 24 months of project completion
- Can build a consortium with at least one partner in another Eurostars country
- Operates in any civilian technology area, no sector restrictions apply
If your project is pre-TRL 4 or lacks an international dimension, other programmes may be more appropriate: the EIC Accelerator supports later-stage deep-tech scale-up, while Horizon Europe Collaborative calls fund larger multi-partner research consortia. Our team can help you identify the right fit with a no-obligation diagnostic call.
Start Your Eurostars Application Now
The 10 September 2026 deadline for the Eureka Eurostars programme is closer than it looks. Building a strong consortium, defining your technical and commercial narrative, aligning national funding conditions, and drafting a competitive proposal all require weeks of focused work.
Book your free consultation with Evolution Europe to get an honest eligibility assessment and a clear view of what your proposal needs to be competitive in Call 11.
Or visit our dedicated Eureka Eurostars funding page for full programme details, eligibility criteria, and client success stories.
Evolution Europe is a Madrid-based European funding consultancy specialising in R&D grant support. We are an official EIC service provider and member of the EAIC network.
