The Eurostars March 2026 Call, part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, co‑funded by the EU through Horizon Europe, supports international collaborative R&D and innovation projects led by innovative SMEs. The programme helps organisations accelerate market‑oriented innovation by providing access to public funding across a wide network of participating countries.
Call deadline: 19 March 2026, 14:00 CET
Applications must be submitted via the official Eurostars project platform
Who Can Apply?
The Eurostars programme is designed for SMEs ready to lead cross‑border R&D projects. Eligible consortia must meet the following criteria:
Led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country.
Include at least two independent entities from at least two Eurostars countries, with at least one partner from an EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
SMEs must represent ≥50% of the total project budget (excluding subcontracting).
No participant or country may exceed 70% of the overall project budget.
Projects must be civil‑purpose only and have a maximum duration of 36 months.
Eurostars supports international collaborative R&D and innovation efforts across all technological fields. Funded activities may include the development of new products, innovative processes, or high‑potential services that can be commercially scaled. Funding availability and rules depend on each participating country’s National Funding Body.
Participating Countries
A wide range of countries have allocated funding for this call, including Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, and many more across Europe and beyond.
Why Apply?
Eurostars offers SMEs a unique opportunity to:
Strengthen international collaboration
Accelerate innovation development
Reduce R&D risk through public co‑funding
Enhance commercialisation potential in global markets