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.
In 2024, two types of calls for proposals were published:
- EIC Pathfinder Open (closed)
- EIC Pathfinder Challenges (closed)
Analogous calls for proposals are planned for 2025.
European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder
European Innovation Council
EIC is a programme under Horizon Europe covering 2021-2027.
The total indicative budget for 2025 is EUR 262 million, including:
- EIC Pathfinder Open: EUR 142 million
- EIC Pathfinder Challenges: EUR 120 million
- EIC Pathfinder Open: Up to EUR 3 million per project
- EIC Pathfinder Challenges: Up to EUR 4 million per project
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.
Public, private, and nonprofit sectors
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
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 stages
EIC Pathfinder projects are subject to provisions to ensure open access to scientific publications and to promote the uptake of research results.
There are currently no open calls for proposals.
