all projects

Evaluation of the
Eurostars-2 funding programme

Client

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Year

ongoing

Partner

ZEW


Eurostars is a funding programme for research performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The programme is supported by the 34 EUREKA member countries (EU-27 states and 7 partner countries) and the European Commission. It is aimed at SMEs that carry out cross-border R&D projects with European partners. On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Prognos and the ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research are evaluating national funding for German grant recipients within the Eurostars-2 funding programme (2014-2021).

How effective is national funding through Eurostars-2?

Eurostars-2 projects are funded at the national level, both through government funding and through self-financing by project participants. In the project period 2014 to 2021, the BMBF has funded around 700 projects with a total of almost 150 million euros, including around 400 collaborative projects.

This study analyses whether the goals of Eurostars-2 were achieved, how effective the national funding was and how economical the project is. Finally, recommendations for action for the future design of the programme are developed.

Our approach

The evaluation is carried out by means of:

  • Literature research
  • Analysis of administrative data on Eurostars-2 funding of German participants
  • Structural analysis of national Eurostars-2 participants
  • Written (online) survey of all national Eurostars 2 participants
  • Impact analysis based on comparisons of nationally funded Eurostars 2 participants with a control group of non-funded participants from Germany
  • Interviews with Eurostars 2 participants and persons and institutions involved in programme implementation

Links and downloads 

More on the evaluation of the Eurostars-2 funding programme (ZEW.de)

More on European SME funding (BMBF website, in German)

Project team: Michael Astor, Diana Nadyseva, Dr Thomas Stehnken (project leader), Victor Wichmann (all Prognos); Prof. Dr Bettina Peters, Dr Christian Rammer, Markus Trunschke (alle ZEW)

Last update: 26.07.2023

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Dr Thomas Stehnken

Senior Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Evaluation of the federal grants to GTAI

2022
| Project

The aim of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) is to promote German foreign trade. Prognos investigated whether they are using their budget effectively.

Evaluation of Eurostars-2, the European SME support programme

2023
| Project

On behalf of the EU Commission, Prognos and its partners examined the Eurostars-2 SME fund-ing programme as part of the evaluation study of the European Framework Programmes Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

Accompanying research on the FONA strategy

ongoing
| Project

The Research for Sustainability (FONA) funding programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Will this target be achieved and which methods can be used to measure this? We investigate this together with partners for the BMBF.

Germany’s innovation leaders 2022

2022
| News

We analysed the patent applications of 180,000 innovative companies worldwide and identified the innovation leaders in 500 technology fields – for the F.A.Z.-Institute and the IMWF Institute.

Evaluation of the EU Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes

ongoing
| Project

Through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, the EU Commission promotes research and innovation in Europe. Prognos evaluates parts of the funding programs.

Accompanying the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative

ongoing
| Project

The CCRI focuses on the implementation of a circular economy in European cities and regions. Prognos is supporting the initiative as a project partner in the associated Coordination and Support Office.

Saarland StrategyPlus 2021-2023

2022
| Project

On behalf of the Saarland State Chancellery, we have assisted with the update of the Saarland innovation strategy and have prepared the strategy paper, “StrategyPlus 2021–2023".

European Regional Development Fund: Evaluation of RTD-Investments

2021
| Project

Evaluation of investments in Research & Technological Development infrastructures and activities supported by the ERDF from 2007 to 2013.

Cluster Initiatives Follow-up

2021
| Project

For the European Commission, we evaluated the impact of the EU cluster initiatives

Smart specialisation

2021
| Project

On behalf of the European Commission, Prognos and partners analysed all the smart specialisation strategies across the EU. The aim was to determine whether the priorities are set wisely.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more