EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder is sponsored by European Innovation Council (under Horizon Europe). The EIC Pathfinder supports collaborative research projects on new, breakthrough technologies, including those related to AI, at early stages of development (TRL 1-4). It's particularly relevant for university spinouts and deep-tech companies.

EIC Pathfinder - European Innovation Council - European Commission What for Deep tech projects Taking forward breakthrough deep tech projects with a high degree of scientific and technological ambition and risk and potential to create a new market (TRL 1-4) Who can apply Research teams Consortia of at least 3 different independent legal entities established in different countries or single applicants (Pathfinder Challenges only) What you get Grants and support Grants of up to EUR 4 million, booster grants (EUR 50 000), coaching & mentoring, networking.

What is the EIC Pathfinder ?

The EIC Pathfinder is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to research teams by: funding research to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies supporting the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep-tech R&D aiming to build on new, cutting-edge directions in science and technology to disrupt a field and a market or create new opportunities realising innovative technological solutions to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and disruptive innovations in Europe Grants to support early stage development of future technologies (e.g. various activities at low TRL 1-4), up to proof of concept and booster grants for complementary activities: Grants - grants of up to EUR 4 million or more if duly justified Booster grants - grants of a fixed amount not exceeding EUR 50 000 for testing the commercialisation potential of their research outputs Access to a range of tailor-made Business Acceleration Services (BAS) for beneficiaries: Access to global partners Access to coaches, mentors, expertise and training Access to innovation ecosystem and peers EIC Pathfinder Challenges For projects that match any of the predefined thematic areas of the Pathfinder Challenges.

The overall budget for the EIC Pathfinder Challenges in 2026 is €96 millions . Pathfinder Challenges 2026 For projects in any field of science, technology or application without predefined thematic priorities.

The overall budget for the EIC Pathfinder Open in 2026 is €166 million This document presents the 2026 European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It sets out how the EIC will allocate its funding of for the year 2026 and has been prepared following the advice of the EIC Board.

Consortia from EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme Consortia of at least three different independent legal entities At least one legal entity established in a Member State At least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries Additionally, single applicants, small and larger consortia (two partners) for EIC Pathfinder Challenges only Your proposal must meet all the following essential characteristics: Convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect to solving a challenge in our economy and society Concrete, novel and ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough, providing advancement towards the envisioned technology High-risk/high-gain research approach and methodology, with concrete and plausible objectives You must submit your proposal via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal before the given deadline.

Deadline for submitting your proposal: EIC Pathfinder Open : 12 May 2026 EIC Pathfinder Challenges: 28 October 2026 The Fast Track scheme allows specific treatment of proposals that result from existing Horizon Europe (including the EIC Pathfinder) to submit directly to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator.

The Hop On facility allows research institutions from widening countries to join already ongoing R&I actions under the EIC Pathfinder and the Horizon Europe Pillar 2. The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

Find your National Contact Point Find answers to questions frequently asked by applicants about types of funding, eligibility, submission of proposals and much more Browse the frequently asked questions All EIC supported projects and companies get access to coaching, mentoring, partnering and other EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS).

EIC Impact Report 2026: Europe strengthens its position as a global deep tech scaling hub The European Innovation Council (EIC) today published its Impact Report 2026 EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 call continues to attract strong interest from the research community EIC awards €118 million to 30 breakthrough research projects under EIC Pathfinder Challenges The European Innovation Council has selected 30 new projects under the 2025 EIC Pathfinder Challenges Call...

EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator projects among the winners of the Innovation Radar Prize Two partners from the EIC Pathfinder-funded projects were among the winners of the Innovation Rader Prize EIC Board welcomes the 2026 work programme The Board endorses the 2026 work programme as the pivotal milestone in advancing Europe's deep-tech and scale-up ambitions.

Strong participation in 2025 EIC Pathfinder Challenges call 667 project proposals received for its 29 October 2025 EIC Pathfinder Challenges deadline.