HTAD and Eureka – a “Perfect Match” for Greater Innovation Through Cross-Border Exchange

For new ideas to become a reality, the right framework conditions are needed. In the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD), the Federal Government has defined nine levers designed to ensure that investment in key technologies and strategic research areas can achieve its full potential. The work of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) within the international innovation network Eureka strengthens the lever ‘Expand European and International Cooperation’ – for greater innovation, competitiveness and sovereignty in close collaboration with European and international partners.

The Eureka network brings together ministries and funding agencies from 47 countries, as well as the European Commission. Eureka provides a proven platform for, for example, developing and implementing bilateral or multilateral calls for proposals on a wide range of topics – in collaboration with key partner countries. The initiative focuses on investment in future technologies, with a particular emphasis on innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups.

What are the benefits of Eureka?

Eureka funding calls enable innovative companies, research institutions and universities in Germany to easily establish European and international partnerships. One example is the multilateral funding call initiated by the BMFTR for innovative research and development projects on circular value creation. Applicants from a total of 21 countries across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North and South America took part. The respective projects will launch in the first half of this year. Through cross-border cooperation, the impact of the funding on the target groups has been enhanced by international expertise: start-ups, SMEs, research institutions and universities benefit from access to external knowledge, expertise and new markets.

Launching projects on a ‘bottom-up’ basis

A key advantage of Eureka projects is their flexibility. In addition to specific Eureka calls for proposals issued by two or more countries, the network supports ‘bottom-up’ collaborations across national borders and continents. Even small consortia can submit market-oriented project ideas at any time on their own initiative – without the need for a specific funding call. With Eurostars, Eureka also offers a technology-neutral funding programme tailored specifically to the needs of innovative SMEs.

Partners from industry and academia thus have several flexible avenues open to them to combine their strengths, learn from one another and jointly drive the transfer from research to concrete application. In this way, cross-border cooperation creates synergies that make a valuable contribution to the objectives of the HTAD.

The BMFTR’s Eureka Office in Germany provides advice on issues relating to the initiation, funding and implementation of projects: eureka.dlr.de/en.

Further information:

• About the nine levers of the HTAD

• Website of the international Eureka network

• BMFTR website on Eureka

• BMFTR website on the Eurostars funding programme, including success stories