About
What can you expect as part of EIC Pathfinder?
With its Pathfinder programme the EIC supports the exploration of bold ideas for radically new technologies. It welcomes the high-risk / high gain and interdisciplinary cutting-edge science collaborations that underpin technological breakthroughs.
Pathfinder goes beyond what is already known. Visionary thinking can open up promising avenues towards powerful new technologies.
Applicants participating in EIC Pathfinder projects are typically visionary scientists and entrepreneurial researchers from universities, research organisations, start-ups, high-tech SMEs or industrial stakeholders interested in technological research and innovation.
Projects typically involve consortia of researchers and other partners from at least three different countries, but there are also opportunities for individual teams and small consortia (two partners).
Grants of up to 3 to 4 million euro support early stage development of future technologies (e.g. various activities at low Technology Readiness Levels 1-3), up to proof of concept. Pathfinder projects can also receive additional funding for testing the innovation potential of their research outputs.
EIC Work Programme 2023
The EIC Work Programme opens funding opportunities worth over €1.6 billion in 2023. For the EIC Pathfinder, €343million is available for multi-disciplinary research teams to undertake visionary research with the potential to lead to technology breakthroughs.
Funding opportunities
The EIC Pathfinder programme consists of a combination of both open and challenge driven funding.
Open Funding
EIC Pathfinder Open provides funding for projects in any field of science or technology, based on high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough interdisciplinary research.
The total indicative budget for this call is EUR 179.5 million.
The EIC Pathfinder Open 2023 call closed on 7 March 2023, 17:00 (CET).
For more details read the EIC Work Programme 2023 and check the Funding & tenders portal.
Strategic EIC Pathfinder Challenges
EIC Pathfinder funding is also available for specific challenges that are typically steered by an EIC Programme Manager.
2023 EIC Pathfinder Challenges
- Clean and efficient cooling
- Architecture, Engineering and Construction digitalisation for a novel triad of design, fabrication, and materials
- Precision nutrition
- Responsible electronics
- In-space solar energy harvesting for innovative space applications
The total indicative budget for this call is EUR 163.5 million which is expected to be allocated in approximately equal shares across the Challenges.
The call opened on 20 June 2023 and it will be closed on 18 October 2023 at 17:00 Brussels local time.
Previous years challenges
2022 EIC Pathfinder Challenges
- Carbon dioxide and nitrogen management and valorisation
- Mid to long term and systems integrated energy storage
- Cardiogenomics
- Towards the healthcare continuum: technologies to support a radical shift from episodic to continuous healthcare
- DNA-based digital data storage
- Alternative approaches to quantum Information processing, communication, and sensing
2021 EIC Pathfinder Challenges
- Awareness inside
- Tools to measure & stimulate activity in brain tissue
- Emerging technologies in cell & gene therapy
- Novel routes to green hydrogen production
- Engineered living material
How to communicate your project

Have you been selected under one of the EIC funding schemes as part of the community of tomorrow's innovation leaders? This toolkit aims to help you prepare your communication activities, events and media relations.
Latest statistics - 19 October 2022
Support to applicants and beneficiaries

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Reach out anytime to NCP, EEN or Access2EIC.

Frequently asked questions
Answers to the frequently asked questions.
News
- News article
Amendment of the European Innovation Council work programme 2023
The Commission adopted the amendment of the EIC work programme 2023 including two Coordination and Support Actions. Both calls for proposals will open on 16 August.

- News article
EIC Board statement: recommendations for increasing participation of high potential innovators from widening countries to EIC programmes
The EIC Board has set an overall objective to increase the participation of widening countries to a share of at least 15% across all EIC instruments, double the current level of below 8%.

- News article
EIC Board publishes draft Code of Conduct for consultants
Following consultations with stakeholders, the Board has agreed a Code of Conduct which it has published in draft for any other parties to provide comments or feedback.