For an innovative company, developing a new product or technology can require expertise, infrastructure and market knowledge that are difficult to find in a single country. International cooperation can open access to those resources, while also helping companies establish relationships in markets they may eventually want to enter.
This is the idea behind Globalstars, an international research and development programme operated through the Eureka Network. It enables organisations from Eureka countries and regions to work with partners in countries outside the Eureka network through dedicated international calls.
Rather than being a single permanent funding call with the same rules everywhere, Globalstars works through individual calls involving particular countries or regions. The funding conditions, eligible organisations and supported activities can therefore differ from one call to another.
What this post covers:
- What Globalstars is and how it works
- Who can participate and what projects it supports
- How funding is organised through national agencies
- What companies need to consider before applying
- The 2026 Globalstars call with Japan
What is Globalstars?
Globalstars supports international R&D projects between organisations in participating Eureka countries or regions and partners in leading or emerging markets outside the network.
The programme is intended for projects developing an innovative product, process or service, with the objective of commercialising the results. The consortium must involve organisations from at least two participating countries, including at least one organisation from a participating Eureka country or region and at least one organisation from the Globalstars partner country or region.
The programme has been used to build cooperation with countries and regions including Japan, India, Taiwan and Uruguay. The exact countries involved depend on each individual call.
This makes Globalstars different from a conventional national R&D programme. The project is international from the outset, with partners expected to contribute complementary knowledge, technology, capabilities or market access.
Who can take part?
The general Globalstars eligibility conditions require a consortium to contain at least two independent entities. Projects must focus on research or development of a product, process or service and must have a civilian, non-military purpose. No single organisation or country can account for more than 70% of the project budget.
The programme can involve different types of organisations. Depending on the specific call, participants may include SMEs, large companies, universities, research organisations and non-profit organisations. However, national funding agencies can impose additional eligibility requirements, so meeting the general Eureka conditions does not automatically mean that an organisation qualifies for national funding.
Another important point is that participation and funding are not necessarily the same thing. Eureka states that organisations that are not eligible to receive funding may still participate in a project, provided they comply with the applicable conditions and secure their own financing where necessary.
How is Globalstars funded?
Globalstars does not operate through one central funding pot distributed by Eureka.
Funding comes from the National Funding Bodies in the countries or regions participating in each call. These agencies determine which organisations are eligible, which activities can be funded and how much support is available.
This means that two partners in the same international project may face different national funding rules.
For companies considering Globalstars, this is one of the first things to check. Eureka recommends contacting the relevant National Funding Body to discuss the project idea, financial conditions, eligibility and any national procedures before submitting an application.
The funding mechanism can also vary considerably between countries. In the current Globalstars call with Japan, for example, Spanish participants are supported through CDTI, with funding provided as a loan, while Japanese startups and SMEs can receive a grant through NEDO.
What makes a Globalstars project different?
The international element is central to the programme.
A project should not simply place two companies from different countries side by side. The cooperation needs to bring value to the participants. Individual calls can specify requirements concerning technological cooperation, commercialisation, internationalisation or the benefits created by working together.
The 2026 Taiwan call, for example, requires projects to demonstrate added value from technological cooperation, such as an increased knowledge base, commercial leads or access to R&D infrastructure. It also requires a clear benefit for the participating partners.
The objective is therefore not international cooperation for its own sake. The partners should have a reason to work together that strengthens the development and future commercialisation of the innovation.
How does the application process work?
The process begins with finding a suitable international partner and identifying a Globalstars call in which both sides can participate.
Applicants should first contact their relevant National Funding Body. They then submit a joint international project application through the Eureka application platform, together with the required partner information and supporting documents.
Eureka checks the application for completeness and eligibility before the proposal goes through its evaluation process. Successful projects receive a Eureka label. National or regional funding agencies can then carry out their own assessments according to their respective rules.
Before the project starts, the partners must also establish a consortium agreement covering the execution of the project and, where applicable, issues such as ownership and use of know-how and intellectual property.
The result is a process involving both an international project assessment and national funding procedures. Companies therefore need to consider the Eureka requirements alongside the specific rules of their own funding agency.
The 2026 Globalstars call with Japan
One of the next opportunities under the programme is the Globalstars call with Japan 2026.
The call opens on 7 October 2026 and closes on 20 January 2027. Switzerland Is one of the participating countries, alongside Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and Japan.
The call is open to R&D projects in a broad range of technological areas. Eureka lists quantum technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, electronics, energy and environment, biotechnology, new materials, medical devices, aerospace, mining and other industrial technologies among the possible areas. Certain technologies, including nuclear power, pharmaceutical development and regenerative medicine product development, are excluded.
Projects must involve companies from at least one participating Eureka country and Japan and must aim to develop an innovative product, process or service for commercialisation. They must also have a civilian purpose and comply with the 70% budget distribution rule.
Why Globalstars can matter for growing companies
For a company developing technology with international potential, the right R&D partner can provide more than additional technical capacity. A partner can contribute specialised knowledge, facilities, commercial connections or knowledge of a target market.
Globalstars is built around this type of cooperation. Its purpose is to combine international R&D with a route towards commercialisation, while allowing participating countries to apply their own national funding mechanisms.
For companies considering an application, the starting point is therefore not simply asking how much funding is available. It is identifying whether there is a genuine technological and commercial reason to work with a partner in the country covered by the call.
That combination (a strong R&D project, complementary international partners and a credible path towards the market) is at the centre of what Globalstars is designed to support.
About the author of this post
Sara Gavidia
Communications Manager
Funding Expert
LinkedIn
sara.gavidia@strata.team
Hello! I’m Sara 👋🏻 I’m the Lead content editor at Strata. Are you looking for funding? Then contact our Team of experts: they will offer personal support to review your case and help you prepare a great application!
