- Reference
Eurostars-3 Call 12- Implementing authority
- Eureka Secretariat
- Programme
- Eurostars-3 (European Partnership on Innovative SMEs)
- Deadline
- 4 Mar 2027, 14:00 CET
- Days left
- 119 days
- Total programme budget
- €200,000 sourceThe NIF's national budget for Bulgarian participants in Call 12, per the NIF page.
- Per beneficiary
- Not verifiedEach country funds its own participants. The NIF's national conditions for Call 12 are not yet published.
- Max. funding intensity
- Not verified
- Own contribution
- Not verified
- Funding type
- Grant
Total budget is not the amount one applicant can receive.
Overview
International, market-oriented R&D projects led by innovative SMEs. Two stages: an international evaluation by the Eureka Secretariat, then national funding administered by the NIF.
Summary written by YARD Law (AI-assisted) from the official sources. Not an official text.
Status: Upcoming. The NIF's English page gives a 17 December 2026 to 4 March 2027 window for Call 12, with Bulgaria participating. Call 11 closed on 10 September 2026. source
Who can apply?
3 of 11 conditions confirmed
A consortium led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country, with at least two independent organisations from at least two participating countries.
| Requirement | Our record | source |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian or EU legal entity | Not verified | |
| SME, micro or large-enterprise eligibility | The consortium is led by an innovative SME. | source |
| Startup or established business | Not verified | |
| Minimum operating history | Not verified | |
| Minimum turnover | Not verified | |
| Eligible sectors and NACE codes | Not verified | |
| Geographic eligibility | Not verified | |
| Linked and partner enterprise rules | Not verified | |
| Financial standing and outstanding public debts | Not verified | |
| Consortium or partnership requirements | At least two independent organisations from at least two Eurostars countries. SMEs from Eurostars countries carry at least 50% of the total budget. No participant or country carries more than 70%. | source |
| Other programme-specific restrictions | Up to 36 months; civilian applications only. Bulgarian participants must not start the project work before applying (incentive effect). The NIF's other national conditions are still to be published. | source |
Eligible investments
0 eligible · 1 conditional · 10 not verified
| Investment | Status | Our record |
|---|---|---|
| AI software development | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| AI integration and automation | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Commercial software and licences | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| GPU servers, computing equipment and storage | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Data-centre infrastructure | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Cloud subscriptions and computing services | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Staff and R&D expenditure | Conditional | R&D project costs under the NIF's national rules, not yet published for Call 12. source |
| Machinery and industrial equipment | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Energy-efficiency systems | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Consulting and other professional services | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Construction or renovation | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
Financial requirements
Not published yet
The NIF has not yet published its national funding conditions for Bulgarian participants in Call 12; they are expected around the call's opening on 17 December 2026. For reference only: for Call 10, Eureka listed Bulgarian SMEs at up to 80% of eligible project costs. Call 12 may differ. source source
| Minimum and maximum project value | Not published yet |
|---|---|
| Grant percentage | Not published yet |
| Required own contribution | Not published yet |
| Advance payments | Not published yet |
| Payment and reimbursement rules | Not published yet |
| State-aid limitations | Not published yet |
| Eligible and ineligible costs | Not published yet |
Application process
10 steps
A practical outline. The call documents prevail wherever they differ.
Check eligibility
Check both the international criteria on the Eureka call page and the national conditions published by the National Innovation Fund (NIF) for Bulgarian participants.
Gather supporting documents
Confirm partners (or, for Innowwide, the local subcontractor), company registration details and financial data for each participant.
Prepare the proposal
Write the joint proposal on the Eureka platform following the call guidelines.
Prepare the budget
Each participant sets its own budget; Bulgarian costs must fit the NIF's national funding rules.
Use the official portal
Submit on the Eureka platform named in the call (the Eurostars project platform, or SmartSimple for Innowwide).
Sign electronically
The platform submission is made by the lead applicant. Any Bulgarian national-stage filing follows the NIF's rules; filings through ISUN need a qualified electronic signature (КЕП).
Meet the deadline
Eureka deadlines are usually 14:00 CET. The national stage, where there is one, has its own dates. 4 Mar 2027, 14:00 CET.
Evaluation and approval
Independent experts evaluate internationally; only ranked projects proceed to national funding decisions.
Sign the contract
Bulgarian participants sign the national funding contract with the NIF.
Implement, report, get paid
Carry out the project and report to the NIF (and Eureka where required) under the contract.
Required documents
2 mandatory · 0 conditional
Official sources
5 official links
- Official programme announcement
- Eurostars Call 12 for projects (deadline March 2027) - Eureka NetworkNIF - Funding programmes (Eurostars Call 12)NIF - Call 11 of Eurostars-3Eurostars Call 10 for projects (deadline March 2026) - Eureka Network
- Application portal
- Not linked yet
- Guidelines for applicants
- Not linked yet
- Application templates
- Not linked yet
- Eligible-cost rules
- Not linked yet
- Official clarifications and amendments
- Not linked yet
- Managing authority contact
- НИФ - Програма Eurostars-3
Managing authority contact: National Innovation Fund (Eurostars national contact). nif.government.bg/bg/partners/22
Questions and answers
4 questions
- Can a Bulgarian company apply for Eurostars?
- Eligible applicants: A consortium led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country, with at least two independent organisations from at least two participating countries. Eurostars participating countries; Bulgaria takes part in Call 12.
- What is the deadline for Eurostars?
- The next window for Eurostars is upcoming: it opens on 17 Dec 2026 and closes on 4 Mar 2027, 14:00 CET. Checked on 3 Nov 2026.
- How much funding can one company get from Eurostars?
- Each country funds its own participants. The NIF's national conditions for Call 12 are not yet published. The total budget of €200k is the whole programme envelope, not the amount one company can get.
- How do I apply for Eurostars?
- Applications go through the Eureka platform named in the call; Bulgarian participants then follow the National Innovation Fund's national stage. Official announcement: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/eurostars/eurostars-call-12-for-projects-deadline-march-2027/
Summary written by YARD Law (AI-assisted) from the official sources. Not an official text.
Conflicting information
1 source conflict(s)
- The NIF's Bulgarian page still showed Call 11 as 'Active' after its deadline. source
Record history
Research draft · Last checked: 3 Nov 2026 · Automated check · 4 Nov 2026 · source unchanged
No changes recorded since this record was created.
Bulgaria Funding Intelligence is an information service of YARD Law Co. It is not legal advice and not an official source. YARD Law does not administer public funds and has no official affiliation with any funding authority.