GENERAL INFORMATION
The EUREKA network is the largest international organization with the mission of connecting small and medium enterprises and the research and academic ecosystem for the implementation of joint actions for market-oriented applied research and development.
More specifically, the main objectives of EUREKA are:
- The support of businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, by promoting research and innovation partnerships oriented to market needs
- The promotion of industrial research with the participation of industries, companies, universities and research institutes
- Strengthening the EU’s innovation ecosystem, enhancing the competitiveness and growth of EU businesses within the framework of the EU-funded Partnership on Innovative SMEs
- The production of innovative products, processes and services
More than 45 countries worldwide participate in the EUREKA network, as well as the European Commission. Greece has been a founding member of EUREKA since 1985.
The governing body of EUREKA is the Ministerial Conference, which decides on the general principles and directions of the organization. The Presidency is rotating among the member states of the organization and changes on July 1 of every year. The delegation of High Level Representatives (High Level Group), which includes representatives from the member states of the network, is responsible for amending the Strategic Road Map, accepting new members to the network and approving the projects proposed for funding. Also, in each member state, a National Project Coordinator is designated, who is the contact point for EUREKA’s programs. The organization is administratively supported by the Secretariat, which is based in Brussels (EUREKA Secretariat – ESE).
The programmes of EUREKA network are the following:
Eurostars – European Partnership on Innovative SMEs
Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. The partnership is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe. Eurostars is the largest international funding program for small and medium-sized enterprises that wish to create innovative products, processes or services. The project coordinator must be an SME. The following initiatives have been developed within the framework of Eurostars 3:
- Innowwide Innowwide is a programme funding short feasibility studies aiming at the penetration of innovative small and medium enterprises in international markets.
- Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) The Investment Readiness Program (IRP) is a strategic program of the EUREKA network and part of the “Innovative SMEs” Partnership co-financed by Horizon Europe. It provides assistance to start-up companies to approach large companies and facilitate business collaborations between them.
- Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator The Fast Track program supports SMEs that have already participated in Eurostars 3 funded projects to submit proposals directly to Stage 2 of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme.
The Network Projects programme facilitates cooperation between organizations in the Eureka countries by offering flexibility in the design of the project proposal. Access to public funding is accelerated thanks to limited eligibility criteria and red tape.
Eureka Clusters are industry-led international communities focused on strategic technology areas that aim to meet market needs and solve economic, technological and societal challenges.
Globalstars is a funding programme with calls for projects (sometimes thematic) with countries outside the Eureka network.
You can subscribe to the network’s newsletter on the website https://www.eurekanetwork.org/newsletter to receive the latest EUREKA news.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Michael Kotsias, Eureka High Level Group Representative,
e-mail: m.kotsias@gsrt.gr
Aliki-Maria Argyri, Eureka National Project Coordinator
e-mail: a.argyri@gsrt.gr
Information on the Eurostars programme: eurostars@gsrt.gr
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