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European Innovation Council

EIC Pathfinder

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 investments
Grants of up to EUR 3 million (Pathfinder Open) or EUR 4 million (Pathfinder Challenges), 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
  • Grant funding 

    Grants of up to 3 to 4 million euro to support early stage development of future technologies (e.g. various activities at low TRL 1-3), up to proof of concept.

    • Pathfinder Challenges - grants of up to EUR 4 million or more if duly justified
    • Pathfinder Open - grants of up to EUR 3 million or more if duly justified

    Pathfinder projects can also receive additional funding for testing the innovation potential of their research outputs.

  • Extensive support

    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 2025 is €120 millions.

    Pathfinder Challenges 2025

  • EIC Pathfinder Open

    For projects in any field of science, technology or application without predefined thematic priorities. 
    The overall budget for the EIC Pathfinder Open in 2025 is €142 million

    Pathfinder Open 2025

EIC Work Programe 2025
  • General publications
  • 29 October 2024
EIC work programme 2025

This document presents the 2025 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 over EUR 1.4 billion for the year 2025 and has been prepared following the advice of the EIC Board.

English
(1.42 MB - PDF)
Download

 

Who can apply?

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

How to apply ?

You must submit your proposal via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal before the given deadline.

Deadline for submitting your proposal:

  • EIC Pathfinder Open: 21 May 2025
  • EIC Pathfinder Challenges: 29 October 2025

Apply

Additional opportunities

  • Fast Track scheme

    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.

  • Hop On facility

    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.

EIC Pathfinder portfolio Strategic Plans

The Programme Managers proactively manage EIC portfolios. The specific portfolio objectives and activities are incorporated in the Strategic Plans for each EIC Pathfinder Challenge portfolio which are stored here.

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