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EUREKA: Collaborate Internationally with VLAIO Support

Do you have an R&D project or idea with international potential and do you wish to collaborate with partners from other countries? Combine your expertise with that of partners from other Eureka countries and accelerate innovation in products, services or processes. How does it work? Submit your research or development project to VLAIO and receive a top-up for international collaboration. 

What is Eureka?

Eureka is the world’s largest innovation network. Through Eureka, your business has access to innovation collaboration with partners from other Eureka countries. Belgium is a founding member of the Eureka Network. The network was founded in 1985 to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry.  

Eureka countries  

There are currently 46 member countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Funding  

Eureka does not provide funding itself. The financial support comes entirely from VLAIO, via a research or development project. Your future partners receive support from the innovation agencies in their country or region.  

Within Belgium, support comes from three organisations. VLAIO supports projects of Flemish companies, whilst Innoviris and SPW EER support projects in Brussels and Wallonia respectively. Belspo is the federal point of contact for Eureka. 

What does Eureka do?  

Eureka helps businesses to quickly find the right international innovation partners and set up strong innovation projects together. Practical support, national procedures and potential funding are provided through the participating countries and their innovation agencies. The Eureka label confirms the international collaboration and quality of your project and, in some countries, can open doors to additional support. 

Advantages  

  • Simple: easy access to international partners
  • Secure and reliable: partners are vetted
  • Growth: access to new markets and expertise  
  • Sustainable: long-term collaboration 

What does an average project look like?  

  • 2-4 participants
  • 2-3 countries
  • 32-month duration  
  • € 1.5 million project costs  

How does it work?

  • 1

    You have an international project idea

    • You have an R&D project (or idea) with international potential  
    • You wish to collaborate on this with partners from other countries  
    • Your company is based in Flanders 
  • 2

    Contact VLAIO

    Contact us via info@vlaio.be to discuss your idea.

  • 3

    Find partner(s)

    • Form a consortium with at least one partner from another Eureka country
    • Find partners via Eureka/Enterprise Europe Network or the VLAIO business advisors  
  • 4

    Submit a Eureka proposal

    Submit a joint Eureka proposal with your partners to obtain the Eureka label. Start preparing your VLAIO application during this stage as well. 

  • 5

    Apply for your VLAIO grant

    Submit a research or development project to VLAIO. Your partners will submit a project in their respective countries.

  • 6

    Decision

    VLAIO will assess your application together with the relevant innovation agencies and decide on the Eureka label. In Flanders, this label demonstrates international collaboration. In other countries, it may secure additional funding.

    If VLAIO approves your application, you will receive, in addition to the Flemish grant, a top-up for international collaboration of up to 70%. Your partner will receive grants and/or support from their innovation agency.

  • 7

    Launch your international R&D project

Eureka programmes

Eureka is active across all technological fields. It has various programmes:

  1. Network projects: international, market-oriented R&D projects. Two types of projects:  
    1. Rolling submission: open calls without specific theme
    2. With a deadline: thematic calls  
  2. Globalstars: call for collaboration with a partner from a non-Eureka country
  3. Eurostars: call specifically for SMEs and start-ups
  4. 5 technological clusters:  
    1. ITEA: software
    2. Celtic Next: telecommunications and information technology
    3. Eurogia2030: clean energy and CO₂ reduction  
    4. SMART: advanced and sustainable industrial production technologies  
    5. Xecs: electronic components and systems  
  5. Innowwide: supports start-ups in exploring market viability outside Europe
  6. Investment readiness programme: helps start-ups and SMEs to grow through activities and overseas missions. The call is open only to companies with an ongoing or completed Eurostars project.  

Frequently asked questions 

  • 1

    What if I finance the project completely?

    If you finance the project yourself, you can still submit a Eureka application. This way, your partner can apply for a grant in their region.

  • 2

    Can universities or research institutions also take part in Eureka?

    Yes, as a research partner or subcontractor to a Flemish company submitting a VLAIO application. The conditions for research and development projects still apply.

  • 3

    Is Eureka a European grant?

    No, the funding comes from the country or region where the company is based. Eureka helps companies find the right international innovation partners more quickly.

  • 4

    Is a Eureka application sufficient to qualify for a VLAIO grant?

    No, you must also submit a VLAIO development or research project. For Eurostars, this applies only to the international annex. You can find the template for the annex under ‘Documents’ in the ‘Application procedure’ tab for a research or development project.

  • 5

    When should I submit the VLAIO application?

    You have to submit the VLAIO application either at the same time as or soon after your Eureka application. The exact dates can be found in the news item about the call for proposals.

  • 6

    How do the Eureka clusters work?

    Within the clusters, the project is first evaluated at an international level. If the project proposal is approved, you can submit a project to VLAIO. Participation in a cluster call is subject to a fee.

 

Belgium holds the chair of Eureka  

From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, Belgium will hold the chair of the Eureka Network. The chair is a collaboration between Belspo, Innoviris, SPW EER and VLAIO.

During our year as chair, we will focus on two priorities and one action:

  • Priority: Empower secure collaboration
  • Priority: A sharper purpose, broader collaborations
  • Action: Building a sustainable bottom-up Eureka-EEN cooperation framework  
 

Contact

Address
VLAIO
Telephone
T0800 20 555