Malta-based companies may apply for EUREKA funding to support international collaborative research, development and innovation projects.
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Malta Enterprise on [email protected] before starting the application process.
EUREKA supports the development of marketable innovative products, processes and services across all technological sectors through collaborative research involving partners from Malta and other EUREKA countries.
Malta-based participants in collaborative projects endorsed by the EUREKA Network are supported through Research and Development incentive, subject to the requirements, evaluation parameters and processes applicable to the relevant EUREKA instrument. National review of Malta participant involvement is carried out alongside the evaluation process at EUREKA level.
Network Projects
At least one independent participant from another EUREKA country is required to join the Malta-based participant to form a Network Project.
Malta accepts Network Project applications on an ongoing basis, unless they form part of a multilateral call with a specified deadline.
The joint Network Project application is to be completed with the international partner/s and submitted to EUREKA Network through the EUREKA application portal. At the same time, the Malta-based participant is to submit an R&D National Application through the Malta Enterprise client portal, focusing on its activities within the envisaged joint project. The portal may be accessed at http://clientportal.maltaenterprise.com.
European Partnership on Innovative SMEs / Eurostars and Innowwide
Eurostars supports international collaborative R&D and innovation projects led by innovative SMEs, with the aim of developing new products, processes, and services for European and global markets.
To be considered innovative, SMEs do not need a proven track record of R&D activities, but must comply with the EU SME definition found at SME definition - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.
Eurostars projects must meet the international eligibility criteria, as follows:
- The project consortium is led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country
- The consortium is composed of at least two entities that are independent of one another
- The project consortium is composed of entities from at least two Eurostars countries with at least one organisation coming from an EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country
- The budget of the SMEs from the Eurostars countries (excluding any subcontracting) is 50% or more of the total project cost
- No single participant or country is responsible for more than 70% of the budget of the project
- The project duration is 36 months or less
- The project has an exclusive focus on civil applications
Further information on eligibility criteria may be found on the Eurostars portal.
The programme has two calls per year with application submission deadlines closing in March and September. The next Eurostars call (Eurostars 3 - Call 11) opens on the 9th July 2026 and closes on the 10th September 2026 at 14:00 CEST. Applications must be completed jointly with the international partner/s and submitted through the EUREKA Project Management Platform.
Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs and is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe.
Additional steps for Maltese Applicants that need to be completed in parallel with the Eurostars application.
Maltese participants must submit a request for funding to Malta Enterprise by creating a Eurostars Support Application on the Malta Enterprise client portal. The portal may be accessed at http://clientportal.maltaenterprise.com.
Applicants should ensure that their profile on the Malta Enterprise client portal is complete and includes an Enterprise Size Declaration based on the latest audited financial statement (which must reflect the latest fiscal year for which audited financial statements are expected to be published under national law).
Applicant companies must submit all the following documents through the Malta Enterprise client portal - these submissions should be made in parallel to the official Eurostars application. If these documents are not received by Malta Enterprise, the project may not be considered for funding.
- Financial Summary: provided on Malta Enterprise's template and signed by a certified public accountant and a legal representative of the applicant.
- Audited Financial Statements: last two Audited Financial Statements covering the two of the three years immediately preceding the year of the application
- Management accounts: for the year preceding the year of the application (unless audited accounts covering this year will be submitted)
- Declaration that applicant is not an Undertaking in Difficulty: to be filled online (https://maltaenterprise.jotform.com/251553756888979) and uploaded on the client portal
- A Business Plan: required when the applicant is requesting a cash grant that exceeds €300,000 or has been established for less than 5 years
- Incorporation Certificate
- Memorandum and Articles of Associatio
- Tax Compliance Certificate: issued by the Commissioner for Revenue not earlier than two months from the date of application submission
- Enterprise Size Declaration: to be filled directly in the applicant’s profile on the Malta Enterprise client portal. The data should reflect latest audited financial statements or latest management accounts
All applicants should provide supporting documentation confirming that the applicant has access to sufficient funds to part-finance the project. This documentation must be submitted through the Malta Enterprise client portal and may include:
- Financial documentation (issued by a reputable third party such as a financial institution)
- Documentary evidence of any funds already secured or committed from shareholders and third parties (e.g. financial institutions, investors, etc.)
European Additional requirements for Maltese Applicants if project received a successful Eurostars evaluation
When your project has received a successful Eurostars evaluation, Maltese participants will be granted access to a project funding template aligned to the national funding schemes. The template will be made available through an online platform and will need to be completed directly on the online platform. Once completed a signed copy should be uploaded via the Malta Enterprise client portal following the creation of a new application under the Research & Development Scheme.
Innowwide
Innowwide is funded by the European Union as part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs.
It supports SMEs going global and encourages taking R&D to markets all over the world.
An innovative SME can choose a target region and country, find a local counterpart and apply to Innowwide for a grant of €60,000 to assess the viability of its research or commercial ambitions in international markets via a market feasibility project over a six-month period.
Eureka network runs this programme centrally through one call a year.
Clusters
EUREKA Clusters are industry-led initiatives that support international collaborative R&D projects in technology areas of strategic importance for European competitiveness.
The EUREKA Clusters currently include:
- CELTIC-NEXT – next-generation communications;
- EUROGIA2030 – low-carbon energy technologies;
- ITEA – software innovation and digital transition;
- SMART – advanced manufacturing and production technologies;
- Xecs – electronic components and systems.
Clusters use dedicated websites, issue specific calls and organise information days to facilitate project preparation. Applications with international partners are to be submitted in line with the requirements of the selected Cluster.
Malta-based participants in EUREKA Cluster projects will also be guided on the submission of an R&D National Application through the Malta Enterprise client portal, focusing on their activities within the proposed joint project.
For further details and forms applicable to Malta-based participants in EUREKA projects at a national level, refer to the Research and Development incentive.
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