EIC Pathfinder
EIC Pathfinder: early-stage breakthrough research
EIC Pathfinder is a funding program under the European Innovation Council (EIC) within the Horizon Europe framework. It focuses on disruptive research in the very early stages of technological development, supporting high-risk and high-reward innovations that have the potential to create breakthrough technologies. This program aims to identify and nurture radical ideas that could lead to significant advancements in science and technology.
Through the EIC Pathfinder, Europe is fostering pioneering research in areas such as deep tech, quantum technologies, and advanced materials, enabling researchers and innovators to push the boundaries of existing knowledge and technologies.
What is the EIC Pathfinder
The EIC Pathfinder is a funding program under the European Innovation Council (EIC) within Horizon Europe, designed to support disruptive research and innovation at the early stages of development. The primary goal of the program is to identify and support high-risk, high-reward breakthrough technologies that have the potential to radically change industries or create entirely new markets.
By funding pioneering research, it enables researchers and innovators to explore bold ideas and bring them closer to commercialization.
Types of Technologies/Projects Supported
- The EIC Pathfinder focuses on radical innovations and deep-tech solutions, including, but not limited to:
- Advanced materials that can transform industries such as energy, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- Quantum technologies that promise revolutionary advances in computing and communications.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions for transformative applications across sectors.
- Bioengineering and other cutting-edge life sciences innovations. –
- Others deeptech
This program is designed for projects that push the boundaries of existing technologies and explore novel scientific ideas with the potential to lead to breakthrough advancements.
- Difference Between EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator
While EIC Pathfinder focuses on the early-stage exploration of disruptive technologies, the EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator support later stages of innovation development: EIC Transition: This program bridges the gap between research and commercialization, helping to mature disruptive ideas and prepare them for the market. It is designed for projects that have already shown potential and need support to transition from proof-of-concept to a more developed prototype.
- EIC Accelerator: This program is aimed at high-impact innovation projects that are already in the later stages of development and are ready to scale up. It provides financial support to SMEs and startups to commercialize their innovations.
EIC Pathfinder Open vs Pathfinder Challenges
The EIC Pathfinder program offers two distinct types of calls: Pathfinder Open and Pathfinder Challenges. Both focus on supporting groundbreaking, high-risk research and innovation, but they differ in their approach to thematic focus and funding structure.
EIC Pathfinder Open The EIC Pathfinder
Open offers open calls for disruptive research without specific thematic restrictions. This allows researchers and innovators to explore a wide range of groundbreaking technologies across various fields.
Types of Projects and Consortia: Projects under the Pathfinder Open can range from individual research efforts to collaborative consortia, including universities, research institutions, and businesses. The program is open to any project that proposes radical innovations and high-risk, high-reward ideas in any field of science and technology.
Indicative Budget: The budget for Pathfinder Open projects typically ranges from €3 million to €4 million per project, depending on the specific needs and scale of the project. Funding is designed to support early-stage research and high-risk technological developments.
EIC Pathfinder Challenges
The EIC Pathfinder Challenges offers calls that focus on specific challenges defined by the European Commission. These challenges are aligned with the EU’s strategic priorities and target specific technological, scientific, or societal issues where disruptive innovations are needed.
Calls with Defined Challenges by the Commission: Unlike the open calls, Pathfinder Challenges provide clear guidance on the specific problems or areas of innovation that the European Commission wants to address. These topics are often aligned with key European initiatives such as green energy, AI, or digitalization.
Examples of Challenge Areas:
- Next-generation clean energy systems.
- Artificial intelligence for health and medical applications.
- Quantum technologies for advanced computing and communications.
- Climate change solutions and environmental sustainability innovations.
Who can apply for EIC Pathfinder
EIC Pathfinder supports high-risk, high-reward research and innovation in very early stages. The program is open to a wide range of entities:
Types of Entities:
- Universities and research institutions: For cutting-edge research and development.
- Companies: Both SMEs and larger companies can participate, particularly those with innovative ideas.
- Consortia: Collaborative projects involving multiple organizations from different sectors (academic, research, private sector).
Consortium Requirements:
Number of countries: EIC Pathfinder typically requires that the consortium includes partners from at least two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries. The collaboration can involve multiple organizations from across Europe, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to the project.
Consortium size: There is no strict upper limit on consortium size, but partnerships must be structured to ensure effective coordination and execution of the project.
TRL at the Start:
Projects supported by EIC Pathfinder must be at TRL 1-3, meaning they are in the early research phase (from basic research to early concept validation), with the goal of taking highly innovative ideas from the laboratory to early development.
Eligible Costs and Funding Conditions
EIC Pathfinder provides financial support to cover eligible project costs, which can include:
Eligible Costs:
Personnel costs: Salaries and expenses related to the team members working on the project.
Subcontracting: Costs for external services necessary for the project (e.g., specialized services).
Travel costs: Travel expenses related to the project, including trips for meetings, conferences, and project coordination.
Equipment and materials: Direct costs for materials and equipment essential for the development of the project.
Funding Conditions:
Funding rate: Typically, up to 100% of eligible costs for research and innovation actions (RIA). However, the funding rate can vary depending on the project and type of participant (e.g., non-profit)
Basic Eligibility Rules
To be eligible for EIC Pathfinder funding, projects and applicants must meet certain basic requirements:
Eligibility of Participants: Entities from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible to participate. Third-country entities may be included under specific conditions, but they cannot receive EU funding.
Eligible Costs: Costs related to the execution of the project (as listed above) are eligible for reimbursement, but they must align with Horizon Europe’s financial rules.
Compliance with Horizon Europe: Applicants must adhere to the general rules and regulations of Horizon Europe, including those related to ethics, gender equality, data protection, and dissemination of results.
FAQs about EIC Pathfinder
What is the EIC Pathfinder?
The EIC Pathfinder is an EU funding programme under Horizon Europe that supports visionary, high-risk research projects with the potential to create radically new technologies.
What is the difference between EIC Pathfinder Open and Pathfinder Challenges?
Pathfinder Open funds bottom-up, curiosity-driven research in any area of science, while Pathfinder Challenges focus on specific strategic topics defined by the European Commission.
Who can apply for EIC Pathfinder funding?
Consortia of universities, research organisations, SMEs and other entities from different EU Member States or associated countries can apply, depending on the call conditions.
What is the typical budget of an EIC Pathfinder project?
Projects usually receive several million euros in funding, with up to 100 % of eligible costs covered, depending on the call and the size of the consortium.
How can Euro-Funding support an EIC Pathfinder proposal?
Euro-Funding offers support in eligibility assessment, consortium building, proposal writing, budget design and project management to increase the chances of success.