Introduction

The EUROSTARS Programme is the first EUREKA initiative for funding and support of R&D performing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

EUROSTARS is a new European programme for R&D performing SMEs co-funded by the European Communities, in which the national funding schemes are synchronised and harmonised. An R&D performing SME is a SME in which at least 10% of manpower in terms of full time equivalent (FTE) is occupied with R&D or 10% of annual turnover is dedicated to R&D.

The Programme aims at the reinforcement of the cooperation between EUREKA and the Framework Programme on the basis of instruments such as Article 169 or Article 171 of the European Treaty.

EUROSTARS Programme will contribute to European competitiveness, innovation, employment and economic change. As an initiative of the EUREKA network it will support, through its bottom-up approach, research and development activities carried out by trans-national consortia led by a EUROSTARS SME co-operating with other SMEs, research organisations and/or large enterprises. This SME should be located in a EUREKA Member State which is committed to the EUROSTARS Programme and cooperate with at least one participant from another EUREKA Member State.

The EUROSTARS Joint Programme aims to support those R&D performing SMEs by:

-   Creating a sustainable European R&D support mechanism for R&D performing SMEs;

-   Encouraging them to create new economic activities based on R&D results and bring new products, processes and services to the market faster than would otherwise be possible;

-   Promoting technological and business development, and internationalisation of those companies.