The Horizon 2020 – Eurostars-2 programme is jointly undertaken by several EUREKA countries and is aimed at supporting research and development performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Eurostars has a ‘bottom-up’ approach and is open to all technologies and encourages international collaboration between R&D SMEs by easing access to support and funding. It is fine-tuned to focus on the needs of SMEs, and specifically targets the development of new products, processes and services and the access to international markets. Eurostars aims to combine the best of two worlds with a bottom-up approach, a central submission and evaluation process, and synchronised national funding in 34 countries.

Applications can be submitted at any time but are evaluated twice a year. The next cut-off dates are 18 February and 15 September, 2016.  

The previous cut-off date results: Of the 333 applications submitted for funding, 113 were positively evaluated and all 113 were selected to be funded by the programme, representing a success rate for projects above quality threshold of 100%. The overall success rate is 34%. 

Main technologies represented in the pool of approved projects are Telecommunications (27%), Biotech (24%), and Industrial Manufacturing, Material and Transport (17%). The top five countries involved in such collaboration are Germany, with 40 projects, the Netherlands (28), Switzerland (22), France (20) and Denmark (19). Unfortunately, no water projects on the top of the list, and Belgium has only 5 approved projects.  

We are encouraging Flanders research-performing SMEs to have a look at the Eurostars-2 calls and apply with you new ideas! Find more information about the Eurostars programme on www.eurostars-eureka.eu Need help? – Please contact Vlakwa team!