Back to search

Funding of Projects in the Eurostars 3 Programme
Open

Grant
Last updated: 15.6.2025

The open-themed Eurostars 3 funding program supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in cross-border research and development projects with European partners. The aim is the joint development of new products, processes, and services to strengthen global competitiveness and the European single market.

Who is Funded

The Eurostars 3 funding program primarily targets innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany and other Eurostars participating countries. The goal is to strengthen their global competitiveness and promote cross-border collaborations for the development of future-oriented technologies that serve to strengthen the European single market.

What is Funded

The open-themed Eurostars 3 funding program supports research and development projects for the development of new products, processes, and services. The projects must serve civilian purposes and focus on experimental development. Pure data collection, sampling, or routine work are excluded.

Type and Extent of Funding

The Eurostars 3 program offers non-repayable grants for projects. The maximum funding for German partners is limited to 500,000 Euros, with different funding rates depending on the type of applicant. The maximum project duration is three years.

Conditions and Requirements

For successful funding in the Eurostars 3 program, applicants and projects must meet specific requirements, including coordination by an SME, involvement of partners from at least two countries, and compliance with state aid regulations, especially the GBER. Exploitation of project results is mandatory, and certain budget restrictions and transparency requirements apply.

Application Procedure

The application procedure for Eurostars 3 is two-stage and includes both an international evaluation by external experts and a national review. Interested parties are strongly advised to contact the DLR Project Management Agency before submitting an application. Regular evaluation rounds take place twice a year.

The Eurostars 3 program is based on the "Guideline for the Funding of Projects in the Eurostars 3 Programme" and the general budgetary provisions of the Federal Government. Funding is provided in compliance with EU state aid rules, in particular the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

#Eurostars 3#SME Funding#Research and Development Projects#International Cooperation#Innovation Funding#EU Research#BMBF Grant#Eureka Initiative#Cross-border Projects#Product Development#Process Development#Service Development#Experimental Development#Funding Guideline#DLR Project Management Agency

Funding Overview

Maximum Amount

Maximum Amount:

500,000 €

Open Until

Open Until:

30.06.2027

Award Channel

Award Channel:

Competitive Tender

Region

Region:

European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden), Switzerland

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries:

Innovation in SMEs, Economic Growth, European Research Area

Funding Stages

Funding Stages:

Experimental Development, Product Development, Market Introduction, Feasibility Study

Funding Provider

Program Level: Multi-Country

Funding Body: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Managed By: German Aerospace Center (DLR) Project Management Agency, EUREKA Secretariat

Additional Partners: Independent Evaluation Panel (IEP)

Website: DLR Projektträger