IraSME: International research funding for SMEs

(updated on 10 December 2025)

IraSME (International Research Activities by SMEs) is an international funding network that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions in carrying out transnational research and development (R&D) projects. IraSME thus complements major EU programs such as Horizon Europe, which also aim to strengthen European innovation and competitiveness.

While Horizon Europe primarily promotes large-scale European collaborative research projects, IraSME offers a low-threshold, open-topic, and particularly SME-friendly alternative for bilateral and multilateral R&D collaborations.

In Germany, funding is provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) and implemented by AiF Projekt GmbH.

Focus areas and added value in the context of Horizon Europe

IraSME is open to all topics and technologies (bottom-up) – following the same logic as central parts of Horizon Europe (e.g., EIC Pathfinder or parts of clusters). Nevertheless, there are clear advantages for SMEs:

• Unbureaucratic application process with decentralized funding in the participating countries. In Germany, this is done through the ZIM program.
• Small, agile consortia: Two SMEs from two IraSME countries can already start a project
• High-risk, innovation-oriented R&D
• Funding for both radical technological developments and improvements to existing products, processes, or services

This makes IraSME particularly suitable for SMEs that want to gain initial international cooperation experience or prepare for potential future participation in Horizon Europe projects.

Calls

Every year, IraSME publishes two calls, one in March and one in September.

Current call

• 37th IraSME call – open until March 25, 2026

The calls offer an efficient way to start R&D projects quickly and flexibly – ideal as a supplement or preliminary stage to larger EU projects.

Participating countries

The following countries are currently participating in the IraSME network:

• Belgium (Flanders & Wallonia)
• Brazil
• Germany
• Luxembourg
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Czech Republic
• Turkey

Partners from other countries can participate, but do not receive IraSME funding – this can also be used strategically, similar to Horizon Europe projects with associated and non-associated countries.

CORNET – Partner network for collective research

CORNET (Collective Research Networking) exists in parallel to IraSME. In contrast to IraSME, CORNET is aimed at business associations and other consortia for pre-competitive collective research – another approach that complements Horizon Europe in the areas of open innovation and knowledge dissemination.

CORNET also organizes the annual matchmaking event for IraSME calls. This event supports SMEs and research institutions in finding partners for transnational R&D projects. Participation is free of charge. Further information can be found here.

Sources and further information:

Website of IraSME
Website of CORNET