Eurostars

How does Eurostars work?

Eurostars is part of the European Partnership for Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The partnership is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe

Eurostars is primarily aimed at innovative small and medium-sized companies that are part of international project. It is possible to apply for funding for the development of market-oriented processes, products and services. Through international cooperation and European Partnerships, Eurostars provides access to new knowledge, collaborations and opportunities to test new markets.

Eurostars is an SME-driven programme and collaboration between 36 countries. To be able to apply for Eurostars, the project needs to consist of at least two participating countries and the project coordinator must be an SME.

See all Eurostars countries

Different countries have different funding and application rules. These rules only apply to project partners from that country. Swedish partners must follow Vinnova's rules for funding and support levels. There are also a number of international formal eligibility requirements that apply to everyone. Participants in a Eurostars project need to check that each participant meets their national eligibility requirements and that all partners meet the common requirements before applying.

Read the common requirements

On average, two offers are opened per year. The consortium submits its project application jointly through the Eurostar website. After a project has submitted its proposal, proposal goes through an international assessment process. Please note that Vinnova is not involved in the assessment process of the projects. However, all national funders are involved and carry out the financial control, and therefore Swedish participants may hear from Vinnova if additional information is required.

If the project is approved for funding, the respective country's national funder will pay out funds to that country's participants. For Swedish partners, Vinnova is the funder. If project is approved, Vinnova will contact Swedish participants to submit a supplementary proposal.

Eurostars guidelines for completing a proposal

Information about the international assessment process

Vinnova works for gender-equal social development and an inclusive innovation ecosystem. Therefore, we follow up and assess whether both women and men are equally participating in the grant, participating in and having influence over the project. We also want to increase participation from actors who have not applied for international funding before.

Another aspect is that applicant needs to analyze and decide whether there are sex and/or gender aspects that are relevant in relation to the project's problem area, solutions and utilization. This question is mandatory for all applicant and forms the basis for assessment.

Applicant should also have a prepared and publicly published gender equality action plan (GEP) in accordance with Horisont Europas regulations.

Eurostars is primarily aimed at innovative SMEs, but also at universities, university colleges, research organisations, the public sector and large companies. The international consortium must be coordinated by the SME.
Foundations and associations can apply but must contact Vinnova beforehand for control and review of economic, non-economic activities. Read more under the headings What are the requirements for applicant and How much can I apply.

Individuals or sole proprietorships cannot apply and will not be funded.

In addition to following Vinnova's general terms and conditions for funding and Instructions for eligible costs, the Swedish project partners must also comply with the following term.

Activities in the project shall be conducted at the Swedish operating location and project costs shall be borne by the operating location.

Companies should be able to answer YES to the following three statements:

• Companies applying must have at least 2 annual reports registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office before the call for proposals closes.
• The company must be registered as Swedish limited liability company with the Swedish Companies Registration Office before the call for proposals closes.
• The company must be registered as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency before the call for proposals closes.

Note!
That a submitted annual report does not automatically mean that it is registered. Ensure that it is registered well in advance of the call for proposals closing.

We also assess financial status

Before we decide on funding, we also conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organizational and financial status of those receiving funding.
We use information we receive from credit reports, currently from Dun & Bradstreet.
 
In order for us to grant funding, this also applies:

• Organizations must not be insolvent, undergoing liquidation or corporate restructuring, nor must they have significant unpaid debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
• Limited liability companies must not have used up half or more of their share capital.

Vinnova only checks the most recently registered annual report when assessing national criteria.

The financial and legal control of the projects begins immediately after closing.

It is not possible to update and supplement afterwards.

To ensure that your proposal is processed correctly, you need to read through all the points carefully. It is especially important that you pay attention to the grant levels, so that you are aware of how much you can apply for.

Organisations applying for non- state aid must have a defined activities that is non-economic, and the support must be used exclusively for activities in that activity. The signatory must confirm that proposal applies to non-economic activities and that separate accounting will be applied. Read more under the heading How much can I apply for.

The process includes a meeting between Vinnova and the signatory, among other things to inform about what economic and non-economic activities mean.

With a small or medium-sized company on the Swedish side of a Eurostars project, the maximum amount for all parties in the proposal is a total of 5 million SEK.

If the project does not involve a Swedish small or medium-sized company, the maximum amount that can be applied for on the Swedish side is a total of 2 million SEK.

Applicant small and medium-sized companies must show in their most recently registered annual report, of at least two, that net turnover or equity corresponds to at least half of the amount applied for.

If an organization has entered a funding request that is too high,, it will be automatically adjusted to the correct level. The organization must also confirm that they can co-finance at the higher level. Only then will proposal pass the legal and financial checks in the international application process.

Your international proposal will be made in Euro. The exchange rate between Euro and SEK is determined on the day the call for proposals opens and you will find the exchange rate below.

The exchange rate for the Swedish krona (SEK) (europa.eu).

Please note the maximum funding levels mentioned above and the grant levels below.

• Support levels are based on, among other things, the size and type of the organization and whether it concerns economic or non-economic activities. An economic activities is assessed as a company with a 30–50 percent maximum funding level.
• Small and medium-sized enterprisesaccording to the EU's definition can apply for funding for 50 percentof their eligible costs.
• Large companies can apply for funding for 30 percent of their eligible costs.
• Universities, university colleges, research institutes and the public sector as well as non-economic activities can apply for funding for 70 percent of their eligible costs.

How do you determine if your organization is a research organization?

Please note that research organizations must certify when meeting with Vinnova that you conduct independent basic research, industrial research or experimental development, or disseminate the results of such activities through teaching, publication or knowledge transfer.

How do you determine if your organization is engaged in non-economic activities?

Businesses with non-economic activities should contact Vinnova for a review of the conditions for being approved to apply.

If you conduct non-economic activities and are, for example, a foundation, the signatory must confirm at the meeting with Vinnova that proposal applies to non-economic activities and that separate accounting will be applied.

How do you determine whether your organization is engaged in economic activities?

An organization that offers any kind of service or product on a market is considered to be conducting economic activities and cannot be granted funds with the non- state aid basis. It does not matter how the organization is financed, whether it is public or private, or whether it has a profit motive. It also does not matter what legal form the activity has.

However, the organization itself is responsible for assessing whether it is conducting economic activities.

You can apply for funding for market-oriented research and innovation projects in all areas of technology. Your project must lead to the market introduction of a product, service or process no later than two years after the completion of project. Life science Project may make exceptions for clinical studies. The projects can last a maximum of three years and, according to international requirements, must be a collaboration between at least two Eurostars countries.

What costs are eligible?

See which costs are eligible.

Important to know about consulting costs for Swedish participants

Project in research and development are based on the premise that it is the project parties who will implement and carry out work in the project.

• External consultants should only be hired when specific expertise is needed that the project parties themselves lack.
• Consulting costs must always be stated in the application's budget to be eligible for support.
• What the costs should refer to, that is, which service a participant wants to purchase, should also be stated in the project description.
• A participant in Sweden may not have costs for external consultants that exceed 20 percent of the project party's budget.

1. Make sure you are eligible for funding

Start by reading through Eurostar's national and international rules for participation.

Eurostars national and international rules for participation

2. Contact the support office

Contact the support office for help with how to best apply funding. The support office provides free help and guidance. You can also contact one of the national contact persons for Eurostars at Vinnova.

Support office for small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to apply for EU funding

3. Send proposal to EUREKA

Submit your proposal to the EUREKA Eurostars portal.

Read how to apply to Eureka here

4. Wait for assessment

All applications are subject to an international evaluation process that takes place in two stages.

Read more about the steps on Eureka's own website

5. Decision

If the Om EUREKAs secretariat approves your proposal we will contact you to seek funding for the Swedish parties with us.

The Eurostars website also has a list of guides for those who are about to apply. There you will find answers to all your questions.

Eurostars list of guides Eureka