European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder
The European Innovation Council (EIC) supports innovations with breakthrough and market-creating potential. It provides funding through open calls with no defined thematic priorities or a challenge-driven approach, focusing on a specific thematic breakthrough. EIC is divided into three different schemes: EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator. EIC Pathfinder supports projects focusing on early-stage scientific innovation with the potential of developing scientific breakthroughs.
Under the 2024 work programme, one call for proposals is forthcoming: EIC Pathfinder Challenges, for projects that match any of the predefined thematic areas of the Pathfinder Challenges.
European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder
European Innovation Council
EIC is a programme under Horizon Europe covering 2021-2027.
The total indicative budget for 2024 is EUR 256 million, including:
- EIC Pathfinder Open: EUR 136 million
- EIC Pathfinder Challenges: EUR 120 million
- EIC Pathfinder Open: Up to EUR 3 million
- EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Up to EUR 4 million
Grants, no contribution required. EIC Awardees will also be provided with access to a range of externally contracted, bespoke EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) at any stage of development of their activities.
The following types of applicants are eligible for funding:
- SMEs
- Large enterprises
- NPOs
- Academia
- Individuals
- Public sector
EIC Pathfinder provides support for the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep-tech research and development. For further detail, please see below:
- EIC Pathfinder Open: Open to support projects in any field of science, technology or application without predefined thematic priorities
- EIC Pathfinder Challenges: Focusing on coherent portfolios of projects within predefined thematic areas: (i) carbon sink, (ii) nature inspired alternatives for food packaging and films, (iii) nanoelectronics for energy-efficient smart edge devices, and (iv) protecting EU space infrastructure
Applicants based in the following geographical areas are eligible for funding:
- European Union Member States
- Countries associated to Horizon Europe
- Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
The following types of applications are accepted:
- EIC Pathfinder Open: Only consortia are eligible for funding
- EIC Pathfinder Challenges: Both single entities and consortia are eligible for funding
Depending on the specific project
Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the evaluation within 5 months from the call deadline (indicative) and, if the proposal is selected for funding, can expect the grant agreement to be signed by 8 months after the call deadline (indicative).
Early-stage research and development
EIC Pathfinder projects are subject to provisions to ensure open access to scientific publications and to promote the uptake of research results.
- EIC Pathfinder Open: Closed
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- Submission deadline: 7 March 2024
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- EIC Pathfinder Challenges: Not open yet
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- Submission deadline: 16 October 2024
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