Eurostars is a funding programme designed to support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their partners - including large companies, universities, research organisations and other eligible entities - in implementing collaborative international research, development and innovation projects. Through Eurostars, participating organisations can access public funding to develop innovative products, processes and services with strong potential for commercialisation. The National Innovation Fund (NIF) acts as Bulgaria’s National Funding Body (NFB) for Eurostars and, in this capacity, administers the state aid provided to Bulgarian participants in accordance with the applicable national rules and procedures.

The application procedure for projects under the Eurostars-3 Joint Programme is carried out in two stages.

The first stage involves submitting the project application to the Eureka Secretariat. Information on the applicable eligibility requirements, application conditions and procedures is published on the official Eureka website:

https://www.eurekanetwork.org/

The list of ranked projects is approved by the Eureka High-Level Group (HLG) and subsequently provided to the National Innovation Fund (NIF). The NIF then opens the national funding procedure for the submission of the required documentation by ranked projects with Bulgarian participation. This constitutes the second stage of the application procedure under Eurostars-3.

APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND

Application procedure: Applications under the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs / Eurostars-3 – Call 9 are submitted electronically via the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds (ISUN) at: https://umis2020.government.bg/

Maximum grant amount: The maximum grant available to each Bulgarian participant approved for funding by the NIF under Eurostars-3 is the BGN equivalent of up to EUR 100,000.

Project duration: Projects may have a duration of up to 36 months. Within two years following the successful completion of the project, the resulting product, service or other project outcome must, as applicable, be protected by industrial property rights, implemented in practice (including in production) or placed on the market.

Reporting periods: Each beneficiary determines its own reporting periods. Each reporting period must have a duration of between 3 and 6 months.

Eligible applicants: Enterprises — legal entities and traders registered in Bulgaria within the meaning of the Bulgarian Commerce Act, or equivalent entities established under the legislation of another EU Member State — as well as research and knowledge-dissemination organisations.

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 80% of the eligible costs.

Aid intensity: The aid intensity, calculated on the basis of the eligible project costs, may not exceed:

For micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and research and knowledge-dissemination organisations:

• 50% of the eligible costs for industrial research;
• 25% of the eligible costs for experimental development.

For large enterprises:

• 40% of the eligible costs for industrial research;
• 20% of the eligible costs for experimental development.

The aid intensities for industrial research and experimental development may be increased up to 80% of the eligible costs, subject to fulfilment of the conditions expressly set out in Article 23 of the updated Rules for the Management of the National Innovation Fund Resources (2026).

The notice for applications to the National Innovation Fund is available here: Announcements НИФ