Eureka Network

What Eureka Network does

Eureka Network is an intergovernmental innovation network founded in 1985 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, structured as an AISBL (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif) under Belgian law. It connects 47 member-country ministries and innovation agencies to facilitate cross-border research and development collaboration, having supported over 6,750 collaborative international projects and mobilized approximately €40 billion in public-private investment across its history. The organization does not sell products or services for revenue; it is funded by contributions from member states and co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe, including under the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs.

Its core product surface consists of seven funding and support programmes: Eurostars (SME-led international R&D), Innowwide (SME feasibility studies in foreign markets), Eureka Clusters (thematic industry-led partnerships such as Xecs, ITEA, Celtic-Next, and Euripides), Network Projects (flexible bilateral/multilateral R&D), Globalstars (collaboration with non-European partner countries), Investment Readiness (corporate matching for pilot projects), and Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator (pathway to European Innovation Council funding). Application intake and consortium management are handled through a centralised online portal, myeurekaproject.org. The platform is administrative and matchmaking-oriented rather than technology- or AI-driven.

Eureka serves four primary constituent groups: innovative SMEs (the lead target for Eurostars), large companies and multinationals seeking innovation sourcing, universities and research organizations pursuing applied funding and industry partnerships, and national government agencies and ministries that distribute funding nationally. Distribution is conducted through a two-tier model: a self-serve global portal combined with 47 national funding bodies (e.g., FFG Austria, VLAIO Belgium/Flanders, Bpifrance France, NRC IRAP Canada) that evaluate applications and disburse funds under national rules. Marketing and outreach occur via the eurekanetwork.org website, newsletters, social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), applicant webinars, and matchmaking events including the Global Innovation Summit marking the network's 40th anniversary.

Name

Eureka Network

Legal name

Eureka Network AISBL

Website

https://eurekanetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eureka Network is a Brussels-based intergovernmental AISBL that operates 47-country network of ministries and innovation agencies funding international R&D collaboration through eight programmes (Eurostars, Innowwide, Clusters, Network Projects, Globalstars, Investment Readiness, Fast Track to EIC, and the myeurekaproject.org portal) for SMEs, large firms, universities, and research organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International R&D Funding Programmes

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)

Keywords

• International R&D funding
• Innovation collaboration programmes
• Intergovernmental research network
• Cross-border R&D grants
• SME innovation funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Network Membership and Programme Services: Eureka Network operates as an AISBL (international non-profit association) funded by participating member countries and co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe programmes such as Eurostars and the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. The organization does not generate commercial revenue but facilitates access to public R&D funding across its network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Eureka Network facilitates international collaborative research and development projects by coordinating a portfolio of public funding programmes across 47 member countries and the European Union. Its core activity is channelling national and EU R&D grants (through Eurostars, Innowwide, Eureka Clusters, Network Projects, Globalstars, Investment Readiness, and Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator) to consortia of SMEs, large companies, universities, and research organisations that apply through the myeurekaproject.org portal and their respective national funding bodies.

Product overview

Eureka Network is an intergovernmental innovation network offering a portfolio of seven distinct funding and support programmes designed to help companies, universities, and research organizations conduct international R&D collaborations. The core programmes include Eurostars (for SME-led R&D projects), Innowwide (for market feasibility), Eureka Clusters (thematic industry partnerships), Network Projects (flexible bilateral/multilateral R&D), Globalstars (non-European partnerships), Investment Readiness (corporate matching), and Fast Track to EIC Accelerator (European Innovation Council pathway). Access to these programmes is managed through the myeurekaproject.org online platform for application submission and consortium management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eurostars Funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and project partners by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects across all technological fields.
• Innowwide Programme providing funding for SMEs to conduct international feasibility and validation projects for innovative solutions in foreign markets.
• Eureka Clusters Thematic R&D cooperation programmes in specific technology areas (such as Xecs, ITEA, Celtic-Next, Euripides) that bring together industry partners and research organizations.
• Network Projects Flexible funding programme supporting bilateral or multilateral international R&D collaborations with simplified application procedures.
• Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator Streamlined pathway for SMEs to access European Innovation Council funding with Eureka's support and coaching.
• Globalstars Programme facilitating international R&D collaboration between Eureka member countries and partner countries outside Europe, including Singapore, Canada, South Korea, South Africa, and Brazil.
• Investment Readiness Support programme helping SMEs prepare for investment by connecting them with corporate partners for pilot projects and investment opportunities.
• myeurekaproject.org platform Online project platform for managing Eurostars applications, allowing SMEs to create accounts, complete application forms, and collaborate with international partners on R&D project submissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 billion euro public-private investment mobilised across network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• InriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to launch the PULSE programme (PUshing Low-carbon Services towards the Edge) focused on sustainable edge computing using waste heat recovery technology from HPC systems.
• European Union (Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurostars and Investment Readiness Programme are part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe. This partnership provides significant EU-level support and legitimacy to Eureka programmes.
• Chilean Economic Development Agency (Corfo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Eureka and Corfo, West Ingeniería gained access to personalised advisory services, international matchmaking mechanisms and funding programmes that enabled collaboration with Finnish partner GIM.
• National Funding Bodies (47 countries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 47 national ministries and innovation agencies that manage R&D funding within Eureka programmes including FFG (Austria), VLAIO (Belgium/Flanders), Bpifrance (France), NRC IRAP (Canada), and many others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Science Foundation (NSF): The NSF is the principal US federal agency funding basic and applied research across universities and research institutions. While its geographic remit is US-focused, it is the closest analogue to an intergovernmental R&D grantmaker in scale, governance, and mission, and is the typical comparison point for evaluating Eureka's institutional funding model.
• OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation: The OECD STI directorate coordinates international policy, measurement, and benchmarking of science and innovation across 38 member countries. While it does not directly fund R&D projects, it is the closest peer for an intergovernmental body that convenes national innovation agencies and shapes cross-border R&D policy frameworks.
• Horizon Europe (European Commission): Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship multi-year R&D funding programme (€95.5B for 2021–2027) and the ultimate funder behind Eurostars and the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. It directly competes for and complements Eureka's applicant base, and is the principal upstream capital source for the Eureka ecosystem.

Regional players

• CRDF Global: CRDF Global is a US-based nonprofit that funds and manages international science R&D collaboration, particularly with the US, Eurasia, and the Middle East. It is a regional peer in the intergovernmental/nonprofit R&D grantmaking space, with a comparable mission of facilitating cross-border research consortia.

Direct peers

• NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme (SPS): NATO SPS funds collaborative civilian R&D projects across NATO and partner countries in security-relevant domains. Like Eureka, it is an intergovernmental programme that funds cross-border R&D consortia and matches companies, research institutes, and universities — a direct institutional peer in cross-border public R&D funding.
• EUREKA Clusters (Xecs / ITEA / Celtic-Next / Euripides): The Eureka Clusters are thematic, industry-led R&D programmes (electronic components, software, telecom, smart systems) operating under the Eureka umbrella. They are the most direct functional peers — both competing with and feeding into Eureka's Network Projects for cross-border deep-tech consortia.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): The EIC is the EU's deep-tech and SME innovation arm, offering Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator instruments with grants and equity. It directly overlaps Eureka's SME-led R&D target audience, and is the destination for Eureka's Fast Track pathway, making it both a partner and competitor for high-growth SME funding.

Emerging players

• Bpifrance: Bpifrance is France's public investment bank and innovation funder, distributing national and EU-backed funding to French SMEs and startups. It is simultaneously a national funding body within the Eureka network and a competing source of direct SME funding, making it both a partner (channel) and a peer in SME R&D finance.
• Fraunhofer Society: Fraunhofer is Europe's largest applied research organisation with 76 institutes and a contract-research model for industry. It participates in Eureka programmes (e.g., as a research partner) and serves a comparable SME/large-corporate innovation audience, although its core model is fee-for-service R&D rather than grantmaking.
• Vinnova (Swedish Innovation Agency): Vinnova is Sweden's national innovation agency funding collaborative R&D between business, academia, and the public sector. It is one of Eureka's 47 national funding bodies but also runs its own cross-border programmes, making it a structural peer in the public-innovation-funding stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EurekaEurope
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRealEureka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eureka-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/eureka_network/?locale=fr_CA&hl=ar
• Xx.com/EUREKA_NETWORK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments17 records

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Frequently asked questions about Eureka Network