FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EUREKA

EUREKA is an intergovernmental network launched in 1985, to support market-oriented R&D and innovation projects by industry, research centres and universities across all technological sectors. It is composed of 39 members, including the European Community. With its flexible and decentralised network, EUREKA offers project partners rapid access to skills and expertise across Europe and national public and private funding schemes.

The internationally recognised EUREKA label adds value to a project and gives participants a competitive edge in their dealings with financial, technical and commercial partners.

EUREKA currently counts 39 members including European Communities. Several European countries participate in EUREKA cooperation through a network of National Information Points (NIPs).

The affiliation known as Associated Country Status was initiated as part of EUREKA's proactive strategy to enhance cooperation with countries outside of Europe judged to have scientific and research potential.

EUREKA members (since):

Austria (1985), Belgium (1985), Croatia (2000), Cyprus (2002), Czech Republic (1995), Denmark (1985), Estonia (2001), Finland (1985), former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2008), France (1985), Germany (1985), Greece (1985), Hungary (1992), Iceland (1985), Ireland (1985), Israel (2000), Italy (1985), Latvia (2000), Lithuania (1999), Luxembourg (1985), Malta (2006), Monaco (2005), the Netherlands (1985), Norway (1985), Poland (1995), Portugal (1985), Romania (1997), Russian Federation (1993), San Marino (2005), Serbia (2002), Slovak Republic (2001), Slovenia (1994), Spain (1985), Sweden (1985), Switzerland(1985), Turkey (1985), Ukraine (2006), United Kingdom (1985), European Commission (1985).

EUREKA NIPs: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria.

EUREKA Associated country: South Korea

EUREKA individual project is market-oriented R&D project labelled by EUREKA based on its bottom-up approach and involving partners from at least two EUREKA member countries, often SME-led. Through a EUREKA individual project its consortium develops new project, technology and/or service for which they agree the Intellectual property rights and build partnerships to penetrate new markets.

EUREKA Clusters are long-term, strategically significant industrial initiatives. They usually have a large number of participants, and aim to develop generic technologies of key importance for European competitiveness, primarily in ICT and, more recently, in energy and biotechnology.

Initiated by industry in close collaboration with national funding authorities, each Cluster has a technological roadmap defining the most important strategic domains. Specific goals are achieved through scores of individual projects. A key asset of EUREKA is its flexibility: roadmaps and projects are continuously adapted in response to the rapidly changing technological environment and market demands.

A Cluster project is project generated within a EUREKA Cluster.

Umbrellas are thematic networks within the EUREKA framework which focus on a specific technology area or business sector. The main goal of an umbrella is to facilitate the generation of EUREKA projects in its own target area. Umbrella activities are coordinated and implemented by a working group consisting of EUREKA representatives and industrial experts. The working group meets on a regular basis.

An umbrella project is a EUREKA individual project generated and running under one of the EUREKA Umbrellas.