Eureka GlobalStars Japan 2026 – Funding for UK–Japan Collaborative R&D

The Eureka GlobalStars Japan 2026 competition invites UK businesses to collaborate with Japanese partners on ambitious industrial research projects. Backed by Innovate UK, this opportunity aims to strengthen international innovation partnerships and accelerate technologies with global market potential.

Funding and Scope

Innovate UK will invest up to £2 million in this competition, with UK applicants eligible for grants of up to £600,000 per project.

Projects must focus on industrial research leading to new or improved products, processes, or services based on the following themes:

innovative products
technology based applications
technology based services

Project based on UK Industrial strategy are highly encouraged to apply!

Eligibility

To qualify for funding, your project must:

Include at least one UK-registered business and one eligible Japanese partner.
Focus on civilian industrial research with a clear market application.
Demonstrate how the partnership provides added value - for example, through shared expertise, complementary R&D infrastructure, or access to new markets.
Carry out the UK portion of work within the UK.
The project must start by 1st July, 2026.

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Key Dates

Competition opens: 13 October 2025
Competition closes: 21 January 2026 (11:00 am UK time)
Project duration: 6–36 months
Funding notifications: Typically 12 weeks after the closing date

Applications must be submitted via the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service and accompanied by a matching submission to the Eureka platform before the same deadline.

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‍Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed on:

Innovation and technical merit - is it ambitious and genuinely new?
Quality of collaboration - does the partnership add cross-border value?
Market potential - is there a credible commercialisation path?
Project plan and risk management - are timelines, deliverables, and costs well structured?
Impact and exploitation - will the project deliver tangible benefits for both the UK and Japan?

Successful projects will demonstrate technical excellence, strong consortium synergy, and clear socio-economic benefit.

Why This Matters

This call gives UK businesses an opportunity to:

Access Japanese innovation ecosystems and expertise.
Strengthen global competitiveness through co-development.
Open routes to Asian markets and investment.
Share R&D risk and cost across international partners.

With the support of Innovate UK and the Eureka network, successful applicants can scale technologies faster and with wider reach.

How Inventya Can Help

At Inventya, we’ve supported countless businesses in securing international innovation funding — from consortium building to final submission. Here’s how we can help you with the Eureka GlobalStars Japan 2026 call:

Partner matchmaking: We connect you with credible Japanese SMEs, corporates, and research institutions.
Eligibility and scope alignment: We ensure your project meets Innovate UK and Eureka criteria from the start.
Proposal development: Our team crafts technically strong, commercially convincing applications that stand out in evaluation.
Financial and compliance support: We help structure budgets, justify costs, and meet all funder requirements.
Full submission management: From the UK IFS platform to the Eureka portal, we coordinate timelines, documentation, and final submission.

If you’re ready to take your innovation global — Inventya can help you build the right consortium, craft a winning bid, and maximise your success.

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Eureka GlobalStars Japan 2026 – Funding for UK–Japan Collaborative R&D

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