EIC Pathfinder - Open
Grant Value: €3,000,000 (100% funded)
Programme: European Innovation Council
Closing date: TBC 2026
Introduction
The EIC Pathfinder supports visionary, high-risk deep-tech research aimed at developing breakthrough technologies with the potential to create entirely new markets. It funds early-stage R&D (TRL 1–4) through grants, mentoring, and ecosystem access, to transform bold scientific ideas into future technology platforms. This programme plays a pivotal role in the European Innovation Council’s goal of building Europe’s deep-tech leadership and driving disruptive innovation.
Eligibility
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.
Requirements
Your proposal must meet all the following essential characteristics:
- Ambitions long-term vision for a radically new technology that has the potential to create new market and provide solutions for global challenges.
- High-risk/high-gain breakthrough research that provides the foundations of the technology that you envisioning.
Award & Project Duration
- Award: Up to €3m (up to 100% grant funded).
- Project Duration: 12 – 35 months.
Key Dates
- Closes: Open TBC 2026.
- Closes: Challenge Guide – Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing – 30th October 2025.
- Closes: Challenge Guide – To create interactive GenAI autonomous agents and/or a combination of them that provide clinicians with a holistic end to end perspective of patient care – 30th October 2025.
- Closes: Challenge Guide – Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments– 30th October 2025.
- Closes: Challenge Guide – Waste-to-value devices: Circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials 30th October 2025.
