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.

The EIC Work Programme  opens funding opportunities worth over €1.7 billion in 2022. For the EIC Pathfinder, €350 million is available  for multi-disciplinary research teams to undertake visionary research with the potential to lead to technology breakthroughs.

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 EIC Pathfinder Open 2022 call will open on  1 March 2022 and close on on 4 May 2022 17.00 (CET).

For more details read the EIC Work Programme 2022 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. 

2022 Challenges

• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Carbon dioxide and nitrogen management and valorisation
• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Mid to long term and systems integrated energy storage
• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Cardiogenomics
• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Towards the healthcare continuum: technologies to support a radical shift from episodic to continuous healthcare
• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: DNA-based digital data storage
• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Alternative approaches to quantum Information processing, communication, and sensing

Learn more on the 2022 Challenges

2021 Challenges

• Challenge: Awareness inside
• Challenge: Tools to measure & stimulate activity in brain tissue
• Challenge: Emerging technologies in cell & gene therapy
• Challenge: Novel routes to green hydrogen production
• Challenge: Engineered living material