1. The Eurostars Programme Answering the research ambitions of
innovative small businesses Svatopluk Halada EUREKA Secretariat 1

2. The Eurostars Programme
> Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support Programme to be specifically dedicated to R&D-performing SMEs
It’s a multi-annual joint EUREKA-EU programme ( ), which combines:
National R&D programmes from 33 countries (300+ M€ committed)
FP7 (up to 100 M€ committed)
EUREKA Secretariat (20+ years of experiences of involving in the national R&D programmes) 2

3. Adoption by the European Union
Eurostars exploits Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning of
the European Union (TFEU)
[ex Article 169 of the Treaty establishing the European Community]
requiring co-decision by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers
Adoption by the
European Parliament
10 April 2008
Adoption by the Council of Ministers
23 June 2008 3

4. The Eurostars Programme
Eurostars in glance 4

5. Eurostars project criteria
Consortium leader is an R&D-performing SME*
At least 2 participants from Eurostars participating countries
Project duration is less than 3 years
Market introduction is foreseen within 2 years after project completion
The R&D-performing SME(s) are undertaking at least 50% of total project costs
Well balanced partnership (no country responsible for more than 75% of total project costs)
No restriction on thematic area (bottom up)
*/At least 10% turnover or 10% full time equivalent (FTE) dedicated to R&D 5

6. Eurostars participating countries
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
status: 28 October 2010 6

7. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS & ASSISTANCE
Eurostars process
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS & ASSISTANCE
Cut-off date
EVALUATION PHASE
Communication of funding results
FUNDING
SYNCHRONISATION
MONITORING PHASE
Eligibility check / NPC Cover note
Project initiation
Registration
Contact
National Project
Co-ordinator
Check the Eurostars Guidelines for Applicants
Final Consortium Agreement
Contact National Project Co-ordinator
Contact National Funding Body
Technical assessment
Market introduction
IEP session
Ranking list
Project execution
Market Impact Report
Project Progress Report
Final Report
Approval of the Ranking list by HLG
Check Guidelines for Participants
14 weeks
5 weeks
Max. 3 years
2 years
Time

8. The Eurostars Programme
Management Structure

9. > Eurostars High Level Group > Eurostars Advisory Group
Eurostars management
> Eurostars High Level Group
> Eurostars Advisory Group
> Eurostars member countries network
> EUREKA Secretariat in Brussels

10. Eurostars High Level Group
Management structure
Eurostars High Level Group
to supervise the implementation of Programme
to nominate the members of the Eurostars Advisory Group (EAG)
to approve the operational procedures to run the Programme
to approve the call planning and call budget
to nominate Chairman and IEP members
to approve the ranking list of Eurostars projects to be funded

11. Eurostars Advisory Group
Management structure
Eurostars Advisory Group
Composed of EUREKA/Eurostars NPCs
Chaired by the EUREKA Secretariat
Recommendation on implementation of the Programme (e.g. funding procedures, evaluation and selection process, project monitoring)

12. Management structure EUREKA Secretariat Role and responsibilities
Eurostars Team is an integral part and charge for the execution of the Programme
Role and responsibilities
Establishment of the yearly call budget, organisation of call for proposals and reception of the project proposals (single entry point)
Organisation of the eligibility and evaluation project proposals
Organisation of the selection project proposals for funding
Project monitoring
Decentralised management of the EC funding contribution
Reporting to the Eurostars HLG, EUREKA HLG and the European Commission
Promotion of the Eurostars Programme

13. Eurostars network The NPC network - role
Support in setting up a project application
Performing pre-screening
Performing part of the eligibility check and writing the Cover note
Involvement in the monitoring of ongoing Eurostars projects
Information and promotion on the Programme

14. The Eurostars Programme
Project Application Submission 14

15. Information website > www.eurostars-eureka.eu

16. Guidelines for applicants
> Download PDF at

17. Support and assistance from EUREKA
Discuss your application with your local NPC
Ensure that all of your partners discuss the application with their local NPCs

18. Signing up as a Eurostars applicant
Submit an application
Download an empty Project application form
Download the Eurostars ‘Guidelines for applicants’
Download the skeleton for the Consortium agreement
Download the checklist for the creation of a Consortium agreement

19. Eurostars Registration
One registration per application is required

20. Eurostars Application form
Ensure that the
Application form is
the latest version

21. Upload Application form
Check availability of acronym
Upload project application form
Pass validation check

22. Upload annexes Upload remaining documents Draft Consortium Agreement
in English according to skeleton
Financial Document for each participant
Certified Accounts
Business Plan
Not required for public organisations
Other annex (optional)

23. Draft Consortium Agreement
Must cover all aspects contained within the skeleton provided
Does not need to be identical
Can contain more information
Do not use FP model
Focus on
Project Management
Access to existing know how
Protection of project results
Exploitation of project results
Agreement of partners is critical
This is a legal document. You must be happy with all aspects.
Important to have a strong draft document
Protects partners
Protects project
Provides clarity for roles
Can help with faster processing and commencement

24. Confirmation and signing of application
A confirmation of the participation to the project is asked by sending the document signed by fax or mail to the Eureka Secretariat address within 7 days following the sending date and maximum 7 days after the cut off date.
A confirmation of the participation in the project is sought by sending a ‘signature and commitment form’ to each participant after the cut-off deadline. This must be returned to the EUREKA Secretariat within 5 working days of its delivery.

25. The Eurostars Programme
Assessment process 25

26. Central evaluation process

27. Eligibility check The EUREKA Secretariat is responsible for providing
the eligibility check
Consortium leader is an R&D-performing SME from a Eurostars participating country?
At least one other participant is from another Eurostars country?
R&D-performing SME(s) contribution 50 % or more of the total project costs?
Is the consortium well balanced? (no single participant or country is responsible for more than 75 % of the total project costs)
Is the project duration 3 years or fewer?
Is market introduction within 2 years of the project’s completion?
Does the project meet the EUREKA criteria? (No restrictions on thematic area, civilian purpose)
 10% FTE engaged in R&D or 10% turnover dedicated to R&D

28. Cover note by National offices
The National Offices are responsible for answering eligibility questions relating directly to the project participants from their country
Is this participant is a legal entity in the host country?
Should this participant be accepted following the application of national track record?
Are there serious doubts as to the finances and practices of the entity (bankruptcy, fraud, no viability)?

29. A two-steps of central evaluation process
Technical assessment by two independent experts
/EUREKA Project Assessment Methodology – PAM/
Basic Assessment
Well balanced partnership; Added value through cooperation
Technological and managerial capacity of all participants
Methodology; Cost and financing structure
Technology and Innovation
Degree of technological maturity
Technological achievements envisaged
Degree of Innovation
Market and Competitiveness
Market size, access and risk
Time to market
Return on investment
Evaluation and ranking by members of the Independent Evaluation Panel (IEP)

30. The selection of Technical experts

31. Who are Technical experts
Industrialists and Academics with specialist technical knowledge and market appreciation
Selected according to eligibility criteria and experience
574 Experts accepted to database
485 Contracts signed from 29 countries

32. The assessment of applications

33. Evaluation by the IEP
Independent Evaluation Panel : Chairman + 8 members
Each of the IEP members evaluate each individual proposal

34. Ranking of applications by the IEP

35. Eurostars HLG endorsement of the IEP Ranking list
Threshold less than 60% in each criteria and less than 67% overall

36. Funding availability and contribution simulator

37. Funding of successful project applications
The funding of partners is based on the national funding rules
The funding of projects is following the ranking list until national budget exhaustion
All partners of a Eurostars project must have a funding secured
Upon receipt of the “funding availibility” letter, all participants must contact their NPC within 10 days

38. The Eurostars Programme
Results of cut-off 1-5 38

39. The Eurostars Programme
First deadline: 8 February 2008
Second deadline: 21 November 2008
Third deadline: 24 September 2009
Fourth deadline: 25 February 2010
Fifth deadline: 30 September 2010

Sixth deadline: 24 March 2011 39

40. Rate of eligible – Above threshold

41. Eurostars Programme - global overview
Submission Stage
Cut-Off1
Cut-Off2
Cut-Off3
Cut-Off4
Cut-Off5
Total
Applications Received
215
317
279
316
343
1470
Total Budget
300 M€
446 M€
385 M€
421 M€
495 M€
2061 M€
Number of Applicants
667
1098
957
1061
1092
4875
4. Number of SMEs
74%
73%
71%
72%
Evaluation Stage
5. Applications Eligible
189
245
236
268 …
938
6. Applications Above Threshold
133
111
112
102
458
Funding Stage
7. Projects Funded 90 89 85 64
328
8. Total Budget
129 M€
128 M€
130 M€
80M€
472 M€
Public Funding *
60 M€
63 M€
61 M€
38M€
222 M€
Members States Funding *
45 M€
47 M€
46 M€
28M€
166 M€
EC Funding *
15 M€
16 M€
10M€
56 M€
*Estimations based on the average public funding rate 41 41

42. Global Overview- Project profile
Cut-Off1
Cut-Off2
Cut-Off3
Cut-Off4
Average cost (M€)
1.4
1.5
1.3
Average participants per projects
3.1
3.4
3.3
Average countries per project
2.4
2.5
Average duration (months) 30 29 27

43. Global overview - Project applicants
Overall, 73% of the applicants are R&D SMEs and SMEs, 5% are large companies, and 21 % are Universities and Research Institutes

44. Global overview - Project participants
Overall, 71% of the applicants are R&D SMEs and SMEs, 6% are large companies, and 22% are Universities and Research Institutes

45. Global overview - Technological areas

46. Global overview - Market areas

47. R&D SMEs profile

48. Types of consortium – Approved projects

49. The Eurostars Programme
is effective

50. Eurostars is effective because…
Predictable procedures (effective EUREKA network support and transparency)
Short lead-time (3 months from cut-off date to evaluation results)
Funding is assured (national commitment)

51. Main motivations for participation

52. Thank you for listening
Next cut-off date:
Cut-Off 6
24 March 2011 at 20h00 CET