Overall Description

The CELTIC-NEXT Autumn 2026 call supports international, industry-driven R&D projects in next-generation communications and software-intensive systems and services.

Projects should develop innovative, commercially relevant technologies, products, processes or services for the digital society while contributing to secure, resilient and sustainable communication infrastructure. The call is bottom-up within CELTIC-NEXT’s strategic research and innovation priorities.

Funding Amount

Funding is awarded separately by participating national authorities. Funding may be provided as grants, loans or combined financing. Examples of published national conditions include:

• Austria: SMEs up to 50%–60%; large companies up to 40% grant or a grant-and-loan combination; research organisations up to 50%.
• Belgium – Wallonia: Small companies up to 80%, medium-sized companies up to 75%, and large companies up to 65%.
• Canada: SMEs up to 50%.
• Finland: Small companies up to 50%, medium-sized and large companies up to 40%, and research organisations up to 80%.
• France: Loan financing up to €3 million per project; start-ups up to 80% and SMEs up to 60%.
• Hungary: HUF 20–70 million; rates generally up to 60%–80% for SMEs.
• Ireland: Companies up to 15%–60%; research organisations up to 100%, capped at €250,000 per organisation.
• Lithuania: Maximum €300,000 per project.
• Poland: Maximum PLN 1 million for one Polish applicant or PLN 2 million for a Polish consortium.
• South Africa: Maximum €300,000 per project and up to 50% of eligible costs.
• South Korea: Up to KRW 500 million per year and KRW 1.5 billion over three years.
• Türkiye: SMEs up to 75%; large companies up to 60%.
• United Kingdom: Small companies up to 70%, medium-sized companies up to 60%, large companies up to 50%, and research organisations up to 30%.

Funding information for some countries, including Germany, remains subject to confirmation.

Submission Deadlines

• Call opening: 1 July 2026.
• Proposers’ Brokerage Day: 25 September 2026, Leuven, Belgium.
• Full Project Proposal deadline: 26 October 2026 at 23:59 CET.
• CELTIC-NEXT Label notification: Expected in January 2027.

Separate national funding deadlines may apply.

Submission Conditions

• The consortium must include at least two independent legal entities from at least two Eureka countries.
• The project must involve international cooperation on a clearly defined R&D project.
• The project must develop an innovative product, process or service with commercialisation potential.
• Projects must have a civilian purpose.
• No single organisation may account for more than 70% of the total project budget.
• No single country may account for more than 70% of the total project budget.
• Proposals must be submitted through the CELTIC-NEXT Cluster Projects Portal.
• The submission must include the completed application form and Full Project Proposal template.
• Each consortium partner must submit a signed Confirmation Letter/Declaration of Acceptance within two weeks after proposal submission.
• Applicants should contact their national funding authorities before submitting.
• Separate national or regional applications may be required.
• The CELTIC-NEXT Label is a prerequisite for national funding but does not guarantee financial support.
• Following label approval, partners must conclude a Project Cooperation Agreement covering intellectual property, exploitation and project responsibilities.
• Projects must comply with the national eligibility, financial and State aid requirements of each participating country.

Eligible Types of Businesses and Organisations

Subject to national rules, eligible participants include:

• Start-ups.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Mid-cap companies.
• Large companies.
• Telecommunications operators.
• ICT and software companies.
• Technology providers and system integrators.
• Universities and higher-education institutions.
• Research and technology organisations.
• Public or private research institutes.
• Relevant public-sector or end-user organisations.

Industry participation is central to CELTIC-NEXT projects. Research organisations may receive direct funding, participate as partners or act as subcontractors, depending on national conditions.

Eligible Countries

• Austria
• Belgium – Flanders
• Belgium – Wallonia
• Canada
• Chile
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Israel
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Poland
• Portugal
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Türkiye
• United Kingdom

Additional Eureka countries, including the Czech Republic, may support participation on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must confirm funding availability with their national authority before submission.