Who can apply for funding under national calls and European Union programs?

Funding opportunities are open to a wide range of applicants - private enterprises, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, scientific and educational institutions, as well as partnerships between them. Each fund, each call or procedure has specific conditions and requirements, so it is important to analyze the eligibility and potential of the applicant in advance.

Do you work with municipalities?

Yes, we work with municipalities and municipal enterprises , providing expert support in project development and implementation, including strategic planning, application and subsequent management.

Do you work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs)?

Yes, we work with non-governmental organizations , including foundations and associations, in preparing and implementing projects in areas such as social activities, education, culture, innovation and sustainable development.

Do you work with other organizations?

Yes, in addition to SMEs, municipalities and NGOs, we also work with:universities and scientific organizations;public institutions and agencies;startups and innovative companies;consortia and partnerships on international projects.

What does co-financing mean?

Co-financing is the part of the project budget that is not covered by European funding and is provided by the beneficiary or other sources.

What are eligible costs?

These are costs that:are directly related to the project;were made within the eligibility period;comply with the rules of the relevant program;are duly documented.

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Eurostars-3 – Funding Programme for International R&D and Innovation Projects

2 days ago
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Introduction

Eurostars is a funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and their partners (including large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations) by financing international collaborative research, development and innovation (R&D&I) projects.

Through participation in the programme, organisations gain access to public funding for international collaborative research and development projects across all fields.

Projects must have civilian purposes.

Applicant Requirements

Eligible applicants for funding in Bulgaria include:

Enterprises – legal entities and traders registered in Bulgaria under the Commercial Act, or equivalent entities under the legislation of an EU Member State;
Research and knowledge dissemination organisations.

The project consortium must consist of organisations from at least two Eurostars participating countries, with at least one organisation from an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.

The consortium must include at least two independent organisations and must be led by an innovative SME.

Project Duration

Projects may have a duration of up to 36 months.

Within two years after the successful completion of the project, the achieved final result, product or service must be:

protected through industrial property rights, where applicable;
implemented in practice (in production);
commercialised on the market.

Eligible Costs and Funding Amount

Eligible costs include:

personnel costs;
tools and equipment;
external services;
materials and consumables;
international travel expenses.

Funding for Bulgarian participants may cover up to 80% of eligible project costs.

The maximum amount of grant funding for one Bulgarian participant within the Eurostars-3 programme is up to EUR 200,000.

The SME’s budget must represent 50% or more of the total project budget, while no individual participant or country may account for more than 70% of the total project budget.

Application Process

The application process consists of two stages:

Stage 1

Organisations submit their applications to the EUREKA Programme Secretariat through the official platform.

To register on the platform, applicants must have a valid PIC number (Participant Identification Code).

Stage 2

All participants whose projects are approved under the programme will be invited to submit a second-stage national application to the National Innovation Fund through the ISUN electronic system.

Before starting the application process, applicants are advised to review the official Application Guidelines.

Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications in the first stage is:

10 September 2026, 14:00 CEST

The results are expected to be announced in December 2026.

Additional Information

Funding for Eurostars participants is managed at national level by the respective National Funding Bodies (NFBs).

For Bulgaria, the responsible organisation is the National Innovation Fund.

If the project is successful, each consortium participant will receive funding from its own national funding organisation according to the specific rules applicable in its country.

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The eligibility of costs is one of the most strictly controlled aspects of any project. Only costs that are directly linked to the activities carried out within the eligible period and supported by correct documentation can be recognized.NORTAN experts perform detailed verification and ensure compliance with the requirements of the governing authorities, which reduces the risk of financial corrections.

The project cycle goes through several key phases:Analysis of client needs and identification of suitable financing opportunities;Development of a project idea and preparation of a proposal;Assessment and approval by the Managing Authority;Implementation, monitoring and control of activities;Final reporting and sustainability of results.NORTAN Ltd offers comprehensive support at every stage - from concept to successful completion of the project.

Among the most common errors are incomplete or incorrect documentation, a mismatch between the project objectives, the scope and priorities of the program, as well as incorrect budget structuring, which includes expenses for remuneration, the purchase of equipment and other external services.Our team conducts a thorough analysis before submitting the project proposal to ensure full compliance and increase the likelihood of approval.

Reporting includes the presentation of detailed technical and financial reports that demonstrate the implementation of activities and the achievement of results.NORTAN provides methodological and expert support throughout the entire process, from documentation preparation to communication with governing bodies, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and legality at the completion of each project.NORTAN Ltd. experts, with proven experience in writing technical and financial reports, provide full support in their preparation and reporting to the competent institutions.

Cascading Funding is a mechanism where the European Commission provides funds to a lead beneficiary (usually a consortium), which then distributes part of these funds to third parties (SMEs, start-ups, NGOs, researchers) through open calls for applications.This type of funding is widely used in programs such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe and is also known as Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) .

Eurostars-3 – Funding Programme for International R&D and Innovation Projects