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.

Application under the Eurostars-3 programme is carried out in two stages – international and national.

In the first stage, project proposals are submitted through the Eureka/Eurostars platform and undergo international evaluation in accordance with the programme rules. Eurostars supports international collaborative research, development and innovation projects led by innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, with the participation of partners from different countries.

In order to submit a successful Eurostars application, applicants should:

• define their project idea;
• collaborate internationally by sharing expertise;
• develop products, processes or services that can be easily commercialised.

Interested applicants may submit their research, development and innovation project applications under Eurostars-3 Call 11 from 9 July 2026 until 14:00 Central European Time on 10 September 2026, using the Eurostars project platform:
https://myeurekaproject.org/

More information about Eurostars-3 – Call 11 is available on the programme website:
https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/eurostars/eurostars-call-for-projects-september-2026/

Applicants are kindly requested to note that the following guidelines have been updated by Eureka to reflect the new login process for the application platform:

• Guidelines for the application platform;
• How to complete a consortium agreement;
• Guidelines for requesting changes;
• Guidelines for project progress reports;
• Guidelines for the project final report.

Following a positive international evaluation under Eurostars-3, Bulgarian participants in approved project proposals proceed to the national funding stage. The documents required for the provision of national financial support are submitted to the National Innovation Fund (NIF) through ISUN.

The Fund acts as the national funding institution for Bulgaria and administers the financing in accordance with the applicable national rules and procedures.