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The EUROSTARS Programme has made announcement for the 6th Call and started to accept submissions. Especially R&D performing SMEs, Universities and Enterprises will take opportunity to participate or coordinate the market oriented projects.
The EUROSTARS Program is an effective support program especially for SMEs which is initiated by The European Commission and EUROSTARS Members States in order to increase the competitiveness of SMEs in Europe. With the EUROSTARS program it is aimed to support the projects of SMEs which carry out R&D oriented activities without distinction of any technology area and industry. However, the projects must be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service and carry a civilian purpose.
Now, the 6th EUROSTARS call is open and you can submit your projects until 24th March 2011. If you are an SME in accordance with the SME definition of European Union, you can start a EUROSTARS project as a project coordinator, otherwise, if you are not an SME or a large company, you can participate in a project as a partner with the universities and research institutions. In order to be a project coordinator in the EUROSTARS projects, at least 10% of the personnel of the SMEs have to work in R&D oriented activities or at least 10% of the turnover of the SMEs must be allocated for the R&D oriented activities. This condition is not valid for the SMEs which will not be the project coordinator. The EUROSTARS Program provides 60% of the project budget as a grant support for large scale companies and 75% grant support for the SMEs. The EUROSTARS projects are market driven projects, namely they must be completed within 3 years and the developed process or product at the end of the project must be presented to the market within 2 years. Also the project consortium must include at least two EUROSTARS member states.
What is the difference between EUROSTARS and EUREKA programmes?
The most common question about the EUROSTARS project is what the difference is between EUREKA and EUROSTARS programs. There are some differences between EUREKA and EUROSTARS such that although we can submit the projects for EUREKA program at any time, in order the submit projects for EUROSTARS projects, the call must be open and usually the calls are opened for 2 times in a year. Applications of EUROSTARS are made directly to the EUROSTARS office in Brussels and the applications are assessed by the international panel. Also while the EUROSTARS projects must be completed within 3 years, there is no time limitation for the EUREKA projects.
All partners in a EUROSTARS project must submit the project to their national funding authority after the acceptance by the international panel of EUROSTARS such as EUREKA projects, Because if the project passes the threshold and is accepted to be funded by the international panel, the project deserves to get European label; however the fund is provided by the national funding authority. Therefore, the budget of the project is evaluated by the national funding authority according to national procedures. At this point some problems may arise; your proposal may not be funded even if it is found successful because of the budget restricts of your national authority or your partner’s national authority. At this stage, if the partner, who is not supported by its national authority, decides to provide the cost of charges by own resources, the project can start; otherwise, you need to search for new appropriate funding programmes such as EUREKA Program. Therefore, it is very crucial for you and your partners to talk to your national authority about the national funding opportunity for the current call before you confirm your partners and submit your proposal.
It is time to start a EUROSTARS Project!
Now it is time to start a EUROSTARS project and you have time until 24th of March 2011 to find partners and complete your proposal. If you are looking for the projects to be included as a partner you can visit the http://www.eurekanetwork.org and enter the part of looking for projects in EUROSTARS. Please visit the official website of EUROSTARS Program http://www.EUROSTARS-eureka.eu/ to get more information and download the application form.
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