EUREKA research initiative
EUREKA is a European initiative for application-orientated research and development in international collaborative projects. EUREKA offers companies and scientific institutions a framework of cross-border and market-orientated collaborations on innovative subjects with low levels of bureaucracy.
The main objective of EUREKA is to promote innovative products, processes and services with a civilian focus and thus to boost European competitiveness.
Advantages for SMEs: Open-topic approach (the partners define content, scope, nature and duration of the cooperation themselves), low administrative burden and enlargement of technical and inter-cultural know-how.
Focal areas of the initiative – Classification of projects:
- Materials research
- Production engineering
- Medicine and biotechnology
- Information and communication technology
- Energy
- Laser development and application
- Traffic and transportation
- Environmental technologies
EUREKA is composed of different financing lines and programmes, such as Eurostars, Euragia or ITEA2. Projects are financed in each case by national funding programmes.
Rules for participation in a EUREKA project:
- Independent cooperation partners (i.e. no subsidiary companies or similar) from at least two different EUREKA member states (40 states worldwide).
- The project idea is innovative and is aimed at the development of market driven products, processes or services.
- The project is intended only for civilian purposes.
- The financing of the project is secured (through its own resources, loans or other means)
EUREKA – Eurostars
“Eurostars” is the special EUREKA programme for SMEs that carry out research. The project participants are funded through national resources that have been set aside in the states signed up to in Eurostars. In spite of the national funding mechanisms, Eurostars has a transnational evaluation process: the application is made via a central application procedure, examined by international experts and is progressed according to a standardised timetable.
Video: “25 years of the EUREKA Initiative”
More information and contacts in Germany
