EUREKA Eurostars (formerly: EUREKA Eurostars Programme)
$500,000
Grant
Description:
Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs wishing to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation. Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. The project consortium must spotlight an innovative SME as the main project participant.
Comments on Funding:
NRC covers up to 50% of project costs for SMEs, up to a maximum of $500,000 per SME participant per project.
The funding is non-repayable contribution against approved work completed and invoiced.
Rolling deadline
Eligibility:
To apply, applicants must fulfil seven eligibility criteria:
1. The project consortium is led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country (check the Comments column).
2. The project consortium is composed by at least two entities that are independent of one another.
3. The project consortium is composed by entities from at least two Eurostars countries with a minimum of one organisation from a Eureka full member or partner country2.
4. The budget of the SMEs from a Eurostars country, excluding subcontracting, is 50% or more of the total project cost.
5. No single participant or country is responsible for more than 70% of the budget of the project.
6. The project duration is 36 months or fewer3.
7. The project has an exclusive focus on civil applications.
The NRC has additional national criteria for projects to be eligible to receive funding. Participating companies:
8. must be based in Canada must be incorporated and profit-oriented SMEs with 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
9. have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months prior to the Eurostars call application deadline.
10. must have the objective to grow and generate profits in Canada through the development and commercialisation of innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, processes or services.
11. have a differentiated and protectable technology.
12. have sufficient working capital and resources to undertake a multi‑year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results.
13. register with NRC IRAP prior to the submission of the Eurostars application (see registration instructions below).
14. must be eligible for funding as NRC IRAP clients.
Application Steps:
Applicants must:
1. contact the NRC using the online form on the Eureka website (https://www.eurekanetwork.org/countries/canada/eurostars/apply ) to discuss their project idea, funding rules, financial viability and eligibility. If the applicant is a SME and already has an NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor, it can contact him directly. 2. create an account (one per project application) on the Eurostars application portal. On receiving a verification email, they will have access to the online application form. 3. complete one application form per consortium (in English) and submit it electronically, using the portal. The portal allows applicants to save, revisit and edit their application form, giving them time to confirm that all information is correct. 4. upload their annexes by attaching them to their online application form. 5. ensure that they submit their completed application form and annexes before the deadline. 6. All Canadian participants must also submit an NRC IRAP project proposal and might be asked to provide additional information (e.g. their latest financial statements and a cash-flow projection covering the duration of the project). Project cost information must follow NRC-IRAP cost categories. Contact the NRC for more information. 7. The NRC will carry out an additional assessment of the applicant’s company and project (of e.g. financial, business and managerial capabilities, the potential of achieving expected results and outcomes, commercialisation plans, etc.). A funding decision is expected to be made within 7-8 months after the Eurostars deadline.
Documentation Needed:
Applicants must submit:
1. the application form,
2. two financial reports from the past two financial years (it is strongly recommended to be submitted),
3. a business plan, if no financial reports can be submitted (for example, for a start-up company),
4. an NRC IRAP project proposal,
5. any additional information requested by NRC IRAP (e.g. their latest financial statements and a cash-flow projection covering the duration of the project).
6. Applicants can also include annexes to support their project application: a) a technical annex (related to the project);
b) a Gantt chart.
Other Things to Note:
About the author
Maurice