If you are an SME with an innovative idea, you can apply for European Commission (EC) Eurostars programme. The programme is part of EC Framework Programme 7 (FP7) and is running successfully for number of years.
The main highlights and the eligibility criteria can be explained as below:
- For UK funding, micro-companies (<10 employees) must have been trading for 12 months.
- A Eurostars project can address any technological area, but must have a civilian purpose and be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service.
- A Eurostars project should be market-driven; it must have a maximum duration of three years (normally 18 months to 24 months
- Country specific budgets (i.e. in the UK maximum allowed budget per partner is €600,000)
- Within two years of project completion, the product of the research should be ready for launch onto the market. An exception to this rule applies to biotechnology, biomedical or medical projects which require clinical trials.
- A Eurostars project is collaborative, meaning it must involve at least two participants (legal entities) from two different Eurostars member countries.
- The role of the SME participant(s) in the project should be significant. At least 50% of the total project costs related to R&D activities shall be carried out by the participating R&D performing SME(s), however this percentage can include minor contracting.
- The consortium should be well balanced, meaning that no participant or country will be required to invest more than 75% of the total project costs.
Next Application Deadline:
22nd September 2011 (20:00 C.E.S.T.).
Subsequent application deadline:
March 2012 (Expected)
If you have any questions or would like to chat about how to reach this funding, please do not hesitate to contact me at: funding@cagriyilmaz.com.
