Blueprint for a better tomorrow

Eureka has been, remains and will continue to be an essential part of the global innovation ecosystem

A remarkable journey

As the Eureka network celebrates its 40th anniversary, we take this opportunity to share our remarkable journey that has brought us here and show how Eureka’s past achievements can serve as a stepping stone towards a prosperous and impactful future. This book not only looks back on the history of an organisation that has shaped international, market-oriented innovation over the last four decades, but also bears witness to the power of collaboration, shared ambition, and a collective commitment to strengthening innovation globally.

Founded in 1985 by 18 countries and the European Commission to enhance the competitiveness of industries and national economies in global markets, Eureka has since expanded to include an additional 29 countries from Europe and beyond. Today, its members share a common ambition: to support innovation that delivers economic value, resilience, and long-term competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world.

Although technological capabilities and global conditions have changed profoundly over time, Eureka’s mission is more relevant than ever. Throughout its journey, Eureka has remained at the forefront of innovation, supporting research and development that has had a lasting impact on businesses, societies, and the way value is created and delivered across borders. By enabling collaboration between partners at different stages of supply and value chains, Eureka helps transform ideas into market-ready solutions that respond to real-world needs.

None of this would have been possible without the sustained commitment and cooperation of the ministries and funding agencies that make up the Eureka network. The combination of tailored local support from national and regional funding bodies and the strength of a trusted international framework enables the formation of robust cross-border consortia. These partnerships allow innovators to integrate complementary expertise, reduce risk and strengthen strategic supply chains in key sectors.

Whilst Eureka’s roots lie in Europe-centric, its global network now brings together diverse perspectives and capabilities from countries across four continents. United by a shared goal, members work together to promote innovation that contributes to sustainable growth, economic resilience and prosperity, both nationally and across international markets.

This book brings together stories from across the network, highlighting the tangible impact innovators have achieved with support from Eureka programmes, from advancing new technologies to reinforcing value chains and addressing global challenges.

Eureka has been, and will continue to be, an essential part of the global innovation ecosystem, breaking down geographical barriers and supporting international research and innovation that strengthens competitiveness and cooperation worldwide.

Whether you are an innovator, policymaker, partner, or an interested member of the public, we hope this publication will inspire you and demonstrate how the Eureka model can continue to serve as a blueprint for tackling future challenges and seizing emerging opportunities.

In the network’s 40th year, we extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of the Eureka story over the past four decades—particularly the representatives in the ministries, funding agencies, and the European Union, whose support has been critical to Eureka’s success—as well as all those who have contributed to this book.

We invite you to enjoy the reading, hopefully learn more about Eureka and the projects our network has funded, and perhaps even find a spark of innovative inspiration for the years ahead.