Eureka
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Eureka FP10 Position Paper (2024)
The Eureka FP10 Position Paper (2024) positions Eureka as Europe’s bridge between national and European innovation systems, providing a cost-effective, decentralised mechanism for SME internationalisation. Its Partnership on Innovative SMEs (Eurostars, Innowwide) demonstrates strong impact—supporting 8000+ SMEs, creating 4000 jobs, and raising €1.5M average follow-on funding per firm.
For OPENVERSE, Eureka is a strategic ecosystem enabler: a pipeline of SME-driven innovation across sectors that can populate, test, and scale solutions within OPENVERSE’s digital, immersive, and interoperable frameworks. Engagement would let OPENVERSE act as the meta-platform orchestrator connecting Eureka’s innovation communities to Europe’s technical and data-building blocks.
Basic Identification
Initiative / Partnership Name: Eureka Network
Full SRIDA Title & Version: Eureka Network position paper on the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10)
Publication / Last Update Date: June 2024
Governing Body / Association: Eureka Secretariat; representing 47 national governments and associated ministries and national funding bodies (NFBs).
Type: Intergovernmental R&I Network / European Partnership on Innovative SMEs (co-funded).
Website / Source: eurekanetwork.org
Strategic Orientation
- Vision Statement: “Innovation beyond borders” — to connect national R&I programmes and empower European SMEs to collaborate internationally, enhancing competitiveness and global reach.
- Core Mission / Objectives:
- Maintain and strengthen the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs through FP10 (continuing Eurostars and Innowwide).
- Bridge national innovation ecosystems with European and global markets.
- Enable SMEs to internationalise and scale via collaborative R&D projects.
- Build coherent pathways between Eureka, EIC, and FP10 instruments to reduce fragmentation.
Expected Outcomes / KPIs:
- Increased SME participation in collaborative R&D;
- Stable annual calls with >30% new international participants;
- 1:7 leverage ratio of EU funds (every €1 EU investment triggers €7 total public/private).
Policy Alignment:
- Horizon Europe → FP10;
- New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA);
- European Innovation Ecosystem;
- SME Strategy;
- Open Strategic Autonomy.
Technological & Thematic Priorities
| Focus Area | Description / Activities |
| SME-led Collaborative R&I | Eurostars 3 and Innowwide calls support SME consortia with cross-border R&D |
| Internationalisation & Global Access | Funding for market exploration in non-European countries (Canada, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore; expansion to Chile) |
| Digital & Green Transitions | Supports projects across all technology areas, aligned with twin transition goals |
| Innovation Ecosystem Linkages | Fast Track to EIC Accelerator; cooperation with Enterprise Europe Network |
| Capacity Building for Widening Countries | Accessible to Member States with limited R&I resources; reinforces cohesion |
Cross-cutting Topics: Inclusivity, SME growth, regulatory simplification, predictable funding, sustainability of partnerships.
Synergies: EIC, EEN, FP10 Industrial Partnerships, EuroHPC, EIT.
Governance & Ecosystem
- Leading Organisations: Eureka Secretariat (Brussels); network of 47 countries; EU represented as a full member.
- Stakeholder Groups: SMEs, midcaps, ministries, NFBs, research organisations, investors, and international partners.
- Engagement Mechanisms:
- Regular Eurostars and Innowwide calls (predictable, biannual).
- Investment Readiness and Fast Track schemes to connect with EIC.
- Peer-learning networks for NFBs and policy coordination.
- Update Frequency: Continuous; partnership operates on a 7-year co-funding cycle (Horizon Europe 2021–2027; FP10 2028–2034).
- Contact / Participation Info: Eureka national offices; central coordination via Eureka Secretariat, Brussels.
Building-Block Crosswalk (EC Staff Working Document Alignment)
| Technical Building Block | Eureka / FP10 Focus |
| Data Spaces & Interoperability | SME digitalisation and open data for innovation mapping |
| AI & ML | AI-driven SME solutions for competitiveness |
| Digital Identity & Trust | Supports cross-border collaboration compliance and secure transactions |
| Open Standards & Ecosystems | Horizontal access to all sectors; promotes interoperability |
| Sustainability & Green Transition | Focus on sustainable business innovation |
| Skills & Capacity Building | Training, mentoring, and innovation coaching for SMEs |
Alignment with Virtual Worlds
Relevance:
Eureka’s horizontal SME innovation network makes it a natural partner for OPENVERSE’s orchestration role. It connects actors across all sectors and TRLs, creating bridges between technological and societal innovation.
SRIDA Document Metadata
Keywords / Tags: SME innovation, Eurostars, Innowwide, competitiveness, internationalisation, Horizon Europe, FP10, EIC, industrial ecosystems.
Referenced Horizon Europe Clusters: Cluster 3 (Security), Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry & Space), Cluster 5 (Climate & Mobility).
TRL Range: TRL 3–8 (from applied R&D to market entry).
Budget / Investment: €250M EU co-funding + €583M national + €833M private = €1.7B total investment (1:7 leverage)