Funding competition EUREKA Eurostars 2, round 10

Innovative SMEs can apply for a share of £2.5 million to collaborate in research with partners across Europe and associated countries.

Competition opens: Monday 2 July 2018
Registration closes: Thursday 13 September 2018 7:00pm

This competition is now closed.

Description

Small businesses working on high-quality research and development (R&D) projects across national borders often find it difficult to attract public-sector funding. EUREKA Eurostars was set up to overcome this barrier to innovation. With its market-led approach, it encourages international collaborative research and innovation projects that will be rapidly commercialised.

Eurostars supports SMEs in leading international collaborative research and innovation projects by helping them get access to guidance and funding.

A Eurostars project must have a civilian purpose and be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service.

Projects must be led by a research-performing SME.

Please note that the competition deadline is 13 September 8:00pm Brussels time.

Funding type

Grant

Project size

Up to €360,000 funding for each UK project partner or 60% of eligible project costs will be awarded, whichever is the least. Projects can last up to 36 months.

Find out if you are eligible to apply

In the UK, only SMEs are eligible for funding. The project must be led by a research-performing SME, one that:

invests 10% or more of its turnover into research, or
has 10% of its full-time equivalent staff working on research activities, or
has 5 or more full-time staff working on research activities, if the SME has 100 or fewer employees, or
has 10 or more full-time staff working on research activities, if the SME has more than 100 employees

Your business must fit the EU definition of an SME.

You must follow:

the Eurostars eligibility criteria
the Innovate UK criteria at the competition application deadline and throughout your project:

1. UK SMEs can only take part in one Eurostars project at a time.

2. If you have an existing project, your final project report on it must have been accepted by the Eurostars secretariat before the application deadline for this competition. You can apply for other Innovate UK funding without this restriction.

3. Partners must be separate, non-linked legal entities.

4. Partners must be registered at Companies House for 12 months and have been trading for 12 months at the competition application deadline.

5. All work must be carried out in the UK and your project costs must be incurred in the UK.

6. Your labour costs must be on a pay as you earn (PAYE) basis.

7. UK subcontracting is capped at 20% of the UK partner eligible costs.

8. UK-led projects must be managed by an SME. Project management cannot be subcontracted.

Your partners must follow the eligibility criteria of their countries’ national funding bodies.

Projects that we will not fund

In the UK, Eurostars will not fund:

academics, including universities
research and technology organisations (RTOs)
large companies

These organisations can participate but must self-fund or use funds from other sources.

Competition scope

Eurostars is a European funding programme dedicated to supporting R&D performing SMEs in innovative R&D projects.

It has a market-driven approach, which gives companies full control over project content. It also supports collaborative research and innovation projects that can go to market 2 years after the project finishes.

You can apply for Eurostars funding for any sector and industry. It can address any technological area but must be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service.

A Eurostars project must have a civilian purpose. It cannot have a military purpose.

2 July 2018: Competition opens
13 September 2018 7:00pm: Competition closes
13 September 2018 7:00pm: Registration closes

Before you start

In order to apply for a Eurostars project and submit your application, you must create a Eurostars account.

Eurostars will send you an email with your sign in information. This will allow you to access the restricted website and the application form. Using your email and password, you can access your own personal workspace on the website.

Using the tool bars, navigate your way through the various sections of the application form and complete them as required. Edit, save and retrieve drafts, or download the content as a PDF so that you can email it to your partners. For help refer to the:

guidelines for using the online application system to see an overview of the online portal and the electronic submission system
guidelines for completing an application to see an overview of the online application form and information on how to complete the various sections
Eurostars eligibility guidelines for an explanation of the Eurostars project eligibility criteria and calculation method

Applications can only be submitted using the Eurostars online tool. Application forms and other documents submitted by any other means will be automatically rejected.

Background and further information

For further information about Eurostars, please see the Eurostars process.

Each participating country has a National Project Co-ordinator (NPC). To find yours, please choose your country from the list of 36 Eurostars participating states and partner countries.

If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk.

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