Eurostars (Dutch national contribution)

Eurostars — 11th

Connects Dutch businesses to international consortia through Eurostars 11th Call to build joint innovation projects.

Eurostars is an international R&D funding programme operating under the Eureka intergovernmental network, co-funded by the European Commission through Horizon Europe. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) administers the Dutch national contribution, which totals €22 million per year divided across two annual calls. The 11th call opens 9 July 2026 and closes 10 September 2026 at 14:00 CET. The maximum Dutch national subsidy per project is €500,000, covering only the Dutch participants' share of the project budget; partner organisations in other Eurostars member countries receive separate national co-funding from their own agencies. Funding rates are 50% for SMEs and universities or research institutes, and 40% for large companies. Projects are capped at 36 months and must remain within civil applications.

Every Eurostars project must be led by an innovative SME, and that SME must hold at least 50% of the total project budget. The consortium must include a minimum of two independent organisations from at least two Eurostars member countries. The programme covers R&D-related costs only — marketing and management costs are excluded. Eligible sectors span all civil technology fields; medtech, manufacturing, energy, materials, and ICT are all common focus areas within the Dutch portfolio.

Applicants should prepare proposals that clearly position the lead SME's innovation at the centre of the technical work, with partner organisations contributing complementary expertise. Since the Dutch allocation is split across two annual calls, the per-call budget is approximately €11 million; early submission within the window is advisable. The 10th call, which ran January–March 2026, is closed; organisations that missed it should target the 11th call opening in July 2026.