Flexibility to adapt

Complementing Eureka’s open and bottom-up, industry-driven philosophy is its ability to respond to changing innovation policies without altering its identity. This is achieved through versatile funding programmes, Network Projects and Globalstars, which allow ministries and funding agencies to channel common priorities into bilateral and multilateral calls for projects.

These programmes are regularly appropriated for multiple purposes: to address global challenges, support emerging technologies or target specific regions. With its agile mechanisms, Eureka directs efforts towards the most pressing future needs, whilst preserving its long-term commitment to innovations that deliver socio-economic benefits.

When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, Eureka’s network rapidly combined forces. The result was two calls for projects on pandemic preparedness and solutions, where innovators designed projects to diagnose, treat or stem the spread of the new virus and minimise the effects of future viruses. Eureka was one of the first international networks to mobilise funding to tackle the effects of the disease.

This fast approach was mirrored in a call for projects in response to the devastating impact of the war in Ukraine and earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria in 2023. In solidarity with the efforts of governments, non-profit organisations and companies, a call for disaster resilience, recovery and response projects was launched to fund preventive, immediate and long-term solutions to both natural and human-made disasters.

Such calls for projects, exploiting Eureka’s ready-to-use tools, pave the way for future initiatives in response to global crises.

Eureka’s agility also accommodates shifting national, regional or European policies and emerging technology trends. The network launches calls for projects on AI, quantum technologies, photonics, lightweighting, advanced materials, disruptive technologies, sustainability, climate change, green hydrogen, circular value creation, healthy ageing and food technologies, reflecting both cutting-edge developments and smart specialisation strategies.

Eureka is always ready to quickly adapt to changing priorities, continually offering new opportunities to the innovators it supports.

The Network Projects and Globalstars programmes also stimulate cross-border connections with specific regions. Within Eureka, the Western Balkans is a region that has significant potential. To motivate participation, the network mobilises support in targeted calls for projects, which have proven effective in attracting many new organisations.

For cooperation opportunities beyond Eureka’s network, Globalstars is an efficient system. The programme offers the same flexibility as Network Projects, coupled with a policy for involving new global partners. Priority countries are identified based on strategic interest, and existing cross-border connections are leveraged to engage with regions where organisations have skills and strengths that complement those within the network.

Globalstars ensures Eureka’s valuable engagement with active research and development markets.

Eureka’s future successes will continue to rely on its agility in addressing global challenges, targeting pioneering sectors or technologies and building sustainable relationships with new regions. Driven by the policies of its network ministries and funding agencies, Eureka can remain at the forefront of innovation and advance its collective mission of fostering innovation and cooperation beyond borders.