Eurostars
Lead your own international R&D project.
Eurostars funds international R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with participants from at least two Eurostars countries. If you coordinate from Norway, the Research Council also supports the proposal work with up to NOK 100,000 through PES, paid only if the proposal scores above the threshold and passes the Legal and Financial Viability Check.
Eurostars in numbers
The odds, the support and the rules.
20
%
of submitted Eurostars applications are funded, about one in five, says Eureka
100
k
NOK 100,000 PES support for projects coordinated from Norway, if the threshold and the viability check are passed
2
Eurostars countries at minimum in every consortium, led by an innovative SME
How we work
How we run a Eurostars proposal.
Five steps, worked backwards from the deadline. The PES application is due four weeks before the Eurostars deadline, so the plan starts from there.
01
Qualify
The free 20-minute funding review checks your project against the Eurostars rules, including the equity requirement for Norwegian applicants. If Eurostars is not the right route, we say so and point you to a better one.
Free
02
Find the partner
Every project needs a partner in at least one other Eurostars country. We help you find and approach the right one and agree the budget split and partner terms in writing.
Consortium and terms
03
Write and review
A senior adviser writes the parts that decide the score. A second senior reader scores the draft against the evaluation criteria, and nothing is submitted below the threshold.
Two senior readers
04
Apply for PES
For a project coordinated from Norway, the PES application goes to the Research Council at least four weeks before the Eurostars deadline. For Call 12 that is 4 February 2027.
Four weeks ahead
05
Submit and follow up
We submit by the deadline, 4 March 2027 at 14:00 CET for Call 12, and stay through evaluation and the national funding decision. If it falls short, we go through the feedback with you.
To the grant agreement
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Eurostars.
Who can apply to Eurostars?
The consortium must be led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country. Norwegian companies need at least NOK 500,000 in total equity when they apply and cannot be a company in difficulty. The Research Council's guidance has the full list.
Do we need a partner abroad?
Yes. A project needs at least two independent partners from at least two Eurostars countries, and at least one of those countries must be an EU or Horizon Europe associated country. We help you find the partner and agree the terms.
Who funds my part if I am not in Norway?
Your own country's funder, on its own terms. For SMEs, Vinnova in Sweden funds up to 50 per cent, at most SEK 5 million per project. Business Finland funds up to 50 per cent. Innovation Fund Denmark funds at most EUR 300,000 per participant, and a Danish SME must take part. Provisional, per Eureka's Call 12 page.
Who funds my part in the UK or Switzerland?
For SMEs, Innovate UK funds up to 60 per cent, at most EUR 360,000 per project, shared between UK partners. Innosuisse funds up to 50 per cent. Both are provisional, per Eureka's Call 12 page.
Can a company outside Europe take part?
Yes, with limits. Canada, South Korea, Singapore and South Africa are Eurostars countries, but the consortium still needs a partner from an EU or Horizon Europe associated Eurostars country. Organisations from other countries can take part by funding their own costs.
What is PES, and how much is it?
PES is Research Council support for preparing EU proposals. For Eurostars it is up to NOK 100,000 per project, paid only if the proposal scores above the threshold of 3.6 on each of Excellence, Impact and Quality, and passes the Legal and Financial Viability Check.
When is the next deadline?
Call 12 opens on 17 December 2026 and closes on 4 March 2027 at 14:00 CET. The PES application is due four weeks before, so by 4 February 2027. Eureka has the call details.
What does Founds charge?
Little, on purpose, so the funding goes to the innovation. You choose a small fixed fee, agreed upfront and invoiced at submission, or no cure, no pay: a slightly higher fee, capped, due only when the grant agreement is signed. We never take equity or IP, and we show you the net cost after PES before you sign.
Sources
- Eureka: Eurostars Call 12
- Eureka: Eurostars Call 12 document (PDF)
- Research Council of Norway: Eurostars
- Research Council of Norway: PES support for proposals
Programme figures checked against these sources on .
Find out if you should lead.
The funding review is free and takes 20 minutes. You get a clear answer on whether to coordinate a Eurostars project, and what it would cost you after PES.