Eureka Clusters
CELTIC-NEXT call for projects – Spring 2026
Countries
About this call
Funding information
The CELTIC-NEXT Spring Call 2026 invites innovative R&D proposals aligned with its vision of a next-generation communications for a secured, trusted, and sustainable digital society. Open from 1 December 2025 to 24 April 2026, the call covers a wide scope across ICT, including, for example, network capacity, photonics, satellite systems, mobility, security, robustness, energy efficiency, 5G, 6G, IoT, smart cities and homes, Industry 4.0, logistics, automotive telecoms, blockchain, fintech, e-health, big data, privacy, identity and public safety and way more.
See our Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
Applicants can build international consortia with industry, SMEs, RTOs and academia, supported through an online Launch Event and a Brokerage Day in Vienna. Participation may give access to national public funding; applicants are encouraged to contact their national public authorities for more funding details.
CELTIC-NEXT gives project proposers almost limitless freedom regarding what research topic they can explore in their ICT research projects. The programme’s philosophy is to facilitate projects in a bottom-up way, thus offering projects the chance of both evolutionary and disruptive innovation in all relevant ICT areas without limiting their creativity and ambition.
Timeline
- 1 December 2025: Call opening
- 24 April 2026: Submission deadline
Who can apply for this call
To apply, you must meet several eligibility criteria:
- Your project idea must represent international cooperation in the form of a specific project.
- The project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
- The project must have a civilian purpose.
- Your consortium must include at least two independent legal entities from a minimum of two Eureka countries.
- No single organisation or country can be responsible for more than 70% of the project budget.
Country information
Austria 🇦🇹
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National funding information for Austria will be made available shortly.
Belgium (Wallonia) 🇧🇪
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Walloon funding agency, SPW-Research, funds R&D costs for SMEs and large companies participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups and small companies | Up to 60% of eligible project costs |
| Medium-sized companies | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 40% of eligible project costs |
| Universities and research organisations | See note below |
University or research organisation
Universities and research organisations are not eligible to receive regional funding, but they may participate as subcontractors (up to 20%).
Additional evaluation steps for applications from Belgium (Wallonia)
Valorisation in Wallonia is a regional evaluation criterion.
Additional steps for applications from Belgium (Wallonia)
The Walloon company must submit an application in French via the regional ONTIME platform on the same day that they submit the Cluster application.
More information is available on the website of SPW Research.
Canada 🇨🇦
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Canadian funding agency, the National Research Council Canada (NRC IRAP), funds R&D costs for SMEs participating in this call.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| SMEs | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Funding is not available for companies with more than 500 FTEs. |
| Research organisations or universities | Direct funding is not available to non-SME participants in Canada, but they may qualify for support indirectly as a contractor to the eligible SMEs. Non-SME participants may also seek funding support from other Canadian programs (e.g. NSERC for university researchers) |
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from Canada
Please refer to the Canadian call page for funding process details.
Additional evaluation criteria for applications from Canada
Canadian SME participation will be evaluated based on providing benefits to Canada.
Additional steps for applications from Canada
Canadian participants are strongly encouraged to contact their IRAP representative prior to filing an application. For full funding process description please refer to the Canadian webpage for each call specifically.
More information is available on the website of NRC IRAP.
Czech Republic 🇨🇿
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The Czech Republic has an open budget for this call for projects. Participants from the Czech Republic can receive a grant of up to 12,000,000 Czech korunas.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups and small companies | Up to 80% of eligible project costs |
| Midcap companies | Up to 75% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 65% of eligible project costs |
| Research organisations or universities | Up to 100% of eligible project costs |
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from the Czech Republic
- The duration of your project may not exceed 36 months.
- Your project consortium must have at least one company.
Additional steps for applications from the Czech Republic
There are additional steps that you must take if you are applying from the Czech Republic. These include submitting plans and financial reports. More information about these steps is available on the website of MSMT.
More information is available on the website of the MSMT.
Finland 🇫🇮
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Finnish funding agency, Business Finland, funds R&D costs for SMEs, large companies, research organisations, and universities participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups | Startups are acceptable only if their special expertise is necessary. |
| Small companies | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large and medium-sized companies | Up to 40% of eligible project costs |
| Research organisations or universities | Up to 80% of eligible project costs |
More information is available on the website of Business Finland.
France 🇫🇷
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French funding agency, Bpifrance, funds R&D costs for startups and SMEs participating in this call. Funding is available as a loan with a maximum funding of 3 million euro per project.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups | Up to 80% of eligible project costs |
| SMEs | Up to 60% of eligible project costs |
Companies with more than 2,000 full time equivalent employees are not eligible for funding but can self-fund their project costs. Research organisations and universities are not eligible for funding but can participate as subcontractors. For larger consortiums, alternative funding opportunities such as i-Démo or thematic national calls for projects may be available, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
Additional evaluation steps for applications from France
The project, and the French firm’s technical and financial capacity to carry it through, must be assessed by Bpifrance.
Additional steps for applications from France
Before applying, you must contact your Chargé(e) d’Affaires Innovation in your Bpifrance Regional Office to discuss the application with them and verify your eligibility.
You will have to submit your national application (“demande d’aide à l’innovation”) on the Bpifrance En Ligne platform by the end of April. You will need to submit financial and technical documents requested by your Chargé(e) d’Affaires Innovation.
Germany 🇩🇪
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National funding information for Germany will be made available shortly.
Ireland 🇮🇪
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Irish funding agency, Enterprise Ireland, manages the Eureka programmes. R&D costs for SMEs, large companies, research organisations, and universities participating in this call are administered by Ireland’s national funding agencies (LEO/Enterprise Ireland/Údarás na Gaeltachta/IDA Ireland). Funding is available as a grant.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups | Companies classified as ‘High-Potential Start-Ups’ in Ireland are ineligible for funding in a Eureka project. |
| Small companies | Up to 60% of eligible project costs |
| Medium-sized companies | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 40% of eligible project costs |
| IDA Ireland companies | Up to 15% of eligible project costs |
| Research organisations or universities | Up to 100% of eligible project costs. Limited to a maximum budget of 250,000 euro per organisation, per project. |
Intending participants must be registered with a national funding agency to access grant funding. Intending participants are strongly recommended to check eligibility and rates with the relevant national agency prior to any submission to a Eureka Cluster Call.
Additional steps for applications from Ireland
National grant applications will only be considered after the award of a Cluster label.
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from Ireland
Research organisations or universities can only qualify for funding if a company from Ireland is also participating in the consortium.
Please check with the relevant national funding agency to check all local rules and conditions.
Israel 🇮🇱
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Israeli funding agency, the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA), funds R&D costs for SMEs and large companies participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| SMEs | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
Academic institutions, research entities, and other R&D institutes can participate in the project as sub-contractors.
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from Israel
The call is intended for for-profit R&D performing companies registered in Israel.
Additional evaluation criteria for applications from Israel
Technological and functional innovation, technological and business feasibility, team ability, contribution to the economy.
Additional steps for applications from Israel
After a project receives the Cluster’s label, the company should apply for funding from the IIA.
Poland 🇵🇱
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Polish funding agency, the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), funds R&D costs for SMEs, large companies, research organisations, and universities participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant with a maximum of 1 million Polish zloty for single applicants, or 2 million Polish zloty for a domestic consortium.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups and small companies | Up to 80% of eligible project costs for research or up to 70% of eligible project costs for development |
| Large companies | Up to 75% of eligible project costs for research or up to 50% of eligible project costs for development |
| Research organisations or universities | Up to 100% of eligible project costs |
Additional steps for applications from Poland
Applicants must submit a domestic application which will be the main point for evaluation by NCBR. Criteria will be published on the NCBR website.
More information about funding will be made available on the website of NCBR.
Portugal 🇵🇹
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National funding information for Portugal will be made available shortly.
Singapore 🇸🇬
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Singaporean funding agency, Enterprise Singapore, funds R&D costs for SMEs and large companies participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant. Enterprise Singapore has an open budget to support projects that pass the evaluation criteria.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups and SMEs | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 30% of eligible project costs |
| Research organisations or universities | See note below |
Research organisation or university
Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and research institutions (Ris) can only be funded as a subcontractor to a private enterprise.
Additional steps for applications from Singapore
Companies must submit an application via the Business Grant Portal. The application instructions will be given upon prior consultation with an Enterprise Singapore representative.
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from Singapore
Applicant companies must be:
- Locally owned (the applicant should have at least 30% of its ordinary shares held directly or indirectly by Singaporeans/Singapore PRs)
- In a financially viable position to start and complete the project
The lead applicant should be a business entity that is registered/incorporated and operating in Singapore.
South Africa 🇿🇦
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South African funding agency, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), funds R&D costs for SMEs, large companies, universities, and research institutions participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant with a maximum of 300,000 euro per project.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| Startups | Up to 75% of eligible project costs |
| SMEs | Up to 70% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Universities | Up to 75% of eligible project costs |
| Research organisations | Up to 60% of eligible project costs |
Each project will go through a funding negotiation process with DSTI to determine the exact percentage of funding they will receive. The funding sum will be transferred in tranches in accordance with the project duration.
Additional steps for applications from South Africa
Applicants must inform South Africa’s National Project Coordinator of their interest to submit a proposal and share their project outline 6 weeks before submitting their project. To be considered for national funding, applicants are required to submit a national funding application form to DSTI ([email protected]) within 7 days after closing date of the call. The application form will be sent to applicants after their first meeting with DSTI.
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from South Africa
Funding is available to registered companies and SMEs as per South African definition. Science Councils and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are also eligible to apply if they are a partner to an SMEs. Projects are to be led by SMEs. DSTI will prioritise funding to SMEs and project teams with Black participants, women, and young innovators/scientists as part of the South African transformative targets.
South Korea 🇰🇷
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National funding information for South Korea will be made available shortly.
Spain 🇪🇸
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Spanish funding agency, the Spanish Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), funds participants in this call under two different funding lines:
Proyectos de cooperación tecnológica internacional
- Loan of up to 75% of eligible costs (85% for companies based in convergence regions), where grant of 30% (non-repayable part) for SMEs, 25% for large companies
- Euribor interest loan to be reimbursed in a 10 or15 year period
- Minimum budget for each company is 175,000 euro. There is no budget limitation for Spanish partners, but the budget must be in concordance with the activities to be developed and the capacity of the company
- Project duration from 1 to 3 years
- Eligible expenses: depreciation, consumables, staff, external collaboration, and overheads
- Companies can have 50% of the credit in advance up to 300,000 euro
- Tax relief report
- SMEs and large companies are eligible
- R&D centres and universities have no direct funding, but can participate, subcontracted by a Spanish company
More details are available on the website of CDTI.
INNOGLOBAL Call 2026 (details will be confirmed upon publishing the call)
- Beneficiaries: companies (SMEs and midcaps up to 499 employees)
- Grants up to 80%
- Eligible Spanish regions: Andalucía, Baleares, Canarias, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y León, Ceuta, Community of Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Melilla, and Murcia
- Minimum eligible Budget: 175,000 euro. There is no budget limitation for Spanish partners, but budget must be in concordance with the activities to be developed and the capacity of the company
- Subcontracting up to 50% (70% in the health sector)
- Duration: start in 2026, end date, 31/12/2028
More information is available on the website of CDTI.
Sweden 🇸🇪
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Swedish funding agency, Vinnova, funds R&D costs for SMEs and large companies participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant with a maximum funding of 15 million Swedish krona per project.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| SMEs | Up to 50% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 30% of eligible project costs |
| Research organisations or universities | Up to 100% of eligible project costs |
Additional eligibility criteria for applications from Sweden
- Projects must include at least one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- At least 60% of the total work effort in the consortium must come from the participating companies.
More information is available on the website of Vinnova.
Türkiye 🇹🇷
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Turkish funding agency, TÜBİTAK, funds R&D costs for SMEs and large companies participating in this call. Funding is available as a grant.
The amount of funding available depends on the type of organisation applying.
| Type of organisation | Amount of funding available |
| SMEs | Up to 75% of eligible project costs |
| Large companies | Up to 60% of eligible project costs |
All companies established in Türkiye can apply to the programme. Within the scope of the national application, universities or research institutes are not eligible to participate as partners; however, they may be involved as subcontractors. More information is available on the National Programme Rules website.
Additional evaluation steps for applications from Türkiye
Project proposals are evaluated according to the following three dimensions:
- Dimension: Industrial R&D content, technology level, innovative aspect
- Dimension: Eligibility of project plan and enterprise infrastructure for the project
- Dimension: Turnover of the project outputs to economic benefit and national benefit
Additional steps for applications from Türkiye
Project applications are submitted to TÜBİTAK via PRODİS.
The project should be submitted to TÜBİTAK in accordance with the evaluation calendar of the relevant call.
How to apply
Application process
- Contact your ministry or funding agency through Eureka’s website to discuss your project idea, finances, eligibility and procedures.
- Create an account on our application portal (one per consortium) and select the funding opportunity you want to apply to.
- To apply, use the portal and complete one application form per consortium in English. Additionally, request that other partners fill out a partner form.
- Submit a GANTT chart, a signed co-signature form (available for download on the platform), and any other required attachments.
- We will check your application for completeness and eligibility before reviewing it using a standard evaluation procedure. If successful, your project will receive a Eureka label.
- Your country or region’s ministry or funding agency may conduct another evaluation performed by experts and based on national regulations.
- The final step is to complete and sign a consortium agreement. We recommend that you seek legal advice when drafting your consortium agreement.
Important: Your national or regional funding body may need you to complete additional steps to apply to this Network Projects call. If you do not provide the information required by your national or regional funding body, you may render yourself ineligible to receive public funding.
Evaluation process
1. Impact
- Is the market properly addressed (i.e., size, access and risks)?
- Is the value creation properly addressed (i.e., employment opportunities and environmental and societal benefits)?
- What are the competitive advantages of your project (i.e., strategic importance, enhanced capabilities and visibility)?
- Are your commercialisation plans clear and realistic (i.e., return on investment, geographical and sectoral impact)?
2. Excellence
- What is the degree of innovation? (i.e., is the proposed product, process or service state-of-the-art? Is there sufficient technological maturity and risk)?
- How is new knowledge going to be used?
- Is your project scientifically and technically challenging for consortium partners?
- Are the technical achievability and risk properly addressed?
3. Quality and efficiency of implementation
- What is the quality of your consortium (i.e., balance of the partnership and technological, managerial and financial capabilities of each partner)?
- Is there added value through international cooperation?
- Is your project management and planning realistic and clearly defined (i.e., methodology, planning approach, milestones and deliverables)?
- Is your cost structure reasonable (i.e., costs and financial commitment for each consortium partner)?
4. Overall perception
- Experts will list three positive and negative points about your application and state whether they recommend your project for public funding. Your ministry or funding agency may carry out a further evaluation according to national/regional rules before allocating funding to organisations.
