Europe - Eurostars call for proposals

1. Introduction

Eurostars is the largest international funding program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to collaborate on research and development (R&D) projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation. Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. The partnership is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe. Individual countries provide funding to participants based on their national funding rules and procedures.

Canadian SME participants in Eurostars projects receive advisory services and funding support through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

2. Application deadlines

• NRC IRAP registration deadline (for firms not yet NRC IRAP clients)*: August 16, 2023
• NRC IRAP registration deadline (for NRC IRAP clients): September 14, 2023
• Eurostars application deadline: September 14, 2023 at 8:00 am (EST)
• NRC IRAP funding proposal deadline: October 7, 2023

*Canadian SMEs that are not yet NRC IRAP clients or that are uncertain must register at least 4 weeks before the Eurostars application deadline in order to review their eligibility for NRC IRAP funding with an NRC IRAP representative. 

3. Sectors of focus

This call for proposals is open to projects in all sectors that are civilian in nature.

4. Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for NRC IRAP funding, Canadian SME projects must:

• meet the Eurostars rules and call criteria
• be an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized business in Canada
• have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
• have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months prior to the Eurostars call application deadline
• pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada
• have a differentiated and protectable technology
• have sufficient working capital and resources to undertake a multi-year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results
• register with NRC IRAP (see Registration section below to register)
• be eligible for funding as NRC IRAP clients:
  • Canadian SMEs that are not yet NRC IRAP clients or are uncertain must register at least 4 weeks before the Eurostars application deadline in order to review their eligibility for NRC IRAP funding with an NRC IRAP representative (see Registration section below to register).

Participating Canadian SMEs may not be eligible to receive NRC IRAP funding if they:

• have previously received funding from NRC IRAP but did not make a substantial effort to leverage their R&D results, or
• are currently receiving funding from NRC IRAP and have not yet exploited their R&D results

NRC IRAP funding for an international project is typically restricted to Canadian SMEs that have at least 15 full-time equivalent employees and at least $500,000 CAD in annual revenue.

5. Funding

Financial support for project partners varies according to funding eligibility in their respective countries. In Canada, the maximum funding possible is $500,000 CAD per eligible Canadian SME participant per project.

NRC IRAP funding is only available for eligible Canadian SMEs. All other organizations need to secure alternative funding.

6. Application process

1. 6.1 Registration with NRC IRAP:
   • To apply for NRC IRAP funding through Eurostars, Canadian SME applicants must register with NRC IRAP using the registration button below before the registration deadline.
2. 6.2 Eurostars application:
   • To be completed jointly by the project partners, by the Eurostars application deadline indicated above.
   • The application form and any associated annexes must be submitted online using the Eureka Project Management Platform.
   • Please refer to the Eurostars webpage for full details.
3. 6.3 NRC IRAP project proposal:
   • To be completed by each individual Canadian SME seeking NRC IRAP funding and submitted by the NRC IRAP funding proposal submission deadline indicated above.
   • To be submitted through the NRC IRAP Innovation Portal. NRC IRAP will only provide registered eligible Canadian SMEs with instructions and access to the portal.
   • Applicants must provide their most recent annual and interim financial statements, as well as a cash‑flow projection covering at least the expected duration of their participation in the project as attachments to their NRC IRAP proposal.

7. Contacts

For more information, please refer to the Eurostars call for projects webpage or contact Eric Holdrinet, Canada's Eurostars National Project Coordinator at Eric.Holdrinet@cnrc‑nrc.gc.ca.

The recording of Eurostars' information webinar and other tutorial videos are available in the Eureka Library.

8. Registration

Canadian SME participants must be registered NRC IRAP clients. If not already an NRC IRAP client, Canadian SMEs must contact 1‑877‑994‑4727 to determine if they might be eligible for support through NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program.

To begin the application process, Canadian applicants must register for this opportunity by clicking the Register button.