Eurostars is a funding instrument designed to support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and their partners—large companies, universities, research organizations, and other entities—in carrying out international collaborative research, development, and innovation projects. Through their participation, organizations gain access to public funding for international projects in various fields of research and development. The National Innovation Fund (NIF) acts as the state aid administrator in its capacity as the national funding institution.

The application process for projects under the Eurostars-3 Joint Programme consists of two steps, the first of which is submitting an application to the Eureka Secretariat; the required information regarding the application requirements is published on the initiative’s website: https://www.eurekanetwork.org

The list of selected projects is approved by the "High-Level Group" of the Eureka initiative and is provided to the NIF, which announces the opening of a call for submission of application documents from the selected projects with Bulgarian participation, which is the second step in the application process for projects under the Eurostars-3 Joint Program.

APPLICATION TO THE NIF

Application method: electronically to the European Partnership for Innovative SMEs/Eurostars 3 – Call 9, in electronic format via the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds (ISUN) at the following address:  https://umis2020.government.bg

The maximum amount of grant funding (GF) for each Bulgarian participant approved by the NIF to implement a project under the Eurostars 3 program is the Bulgarian lev equivalent of up to 100,000 euros.

Project duration:  projects may last up to 36 months; within two years of the project’s successful completion, the final result, product, or service must be protected as industrial property, implemented in practice (in production), and brought to market

he duration of the projects is up to 36 months. Within up to two years after the successful completion of the project, the final result, product or service obtained must be protected as industrial property, implemented in practice/in production, or placed on the market.

Reporting periods: Each beneficiary determines the reporting periods independently, provided that each reporting period is between 3 and 6 months.

Eligible applicants for funding: Enterprises – legal entities, traders registered in Bulgaria within the meaning of the Commerce Act, or equivalent entities within the meaning of the legislation of a Member State of the European Union, as well as research and knowledge-dissemination organisations.

The maximum aid intensity is: up to 80% of the eligible costs.

Aid intensity: The aid intensity, calculated on the basis of the eligible project costs:

For a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise and a research and knowledge-dissemination organisation, it may not exceed:

50% of the eligible costs for industrial research;

25% of the eligible costs for experimental development.

For a large enterprise, it may not exceed:

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 compliance with the explicitly specified conditions set out in Article 23 of the Updated Rules of the National Innovation Fund (PUSNIF – 2026).

The evaluation of submitted project proposals includes:

Evaluation of administrative compliance and eligibility;

Announcement for application to the National Innovation Fund here:

https://nif.government.bg/en/terms/52