You should apply if you are looking for support from EIC Pathfinder Open to realise an ambitious vision for radically new technology, with potential to create new markets and/or to address global challenges. EIC Pathfinder Open supports early stage development of such future technologies (e.g. various activities at low Technology Readiness Levels 1-4), based on high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough research (including ‘deep-tech’). This research must provide the foundations of the technology you are envisioning.

EIC Pathfinder Open or Challenges may support your work, especially if it is highly risky: you may set out to try things that will not work; you may be faced with questions that nobody knows the answer to yet; you may realise that there are many aspects of the problem that you do not master. On the contrary, if the path you want to follow is incremental by nature or known, EIC Pathfinder Open will not support you.

Before applying to this call, you should verify that your proposal meets all the following essential characteristics (‘Gatekeepers’):

ª Convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect to our economy and society.

ª Concrete, novel and ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough, providing advancement towards the envisioned technology.

ª High-risk/high-gain research approach and methodology, with concrete and plausible objectives.

 Quick Summary

Type of Action: Research and Innovation Action

Funding Rate: 100% Eligible costs

Eligibility Conditions:

Mono-beneficiary: The legal entities may for example be universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, natural persons. In the case of mono-beneficiary projects, mid-caps and larger companies will not be permitted.

Multi-beneficiary:

  • Two entities: Consortia of two must have independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries.
  • Three entities or more: Consortia of three or above follow standard rules: at least one legal entity must be from a Member State and independent legal entities from three different Member States or Associated Countries.

Proposal Template: Specific, in terms of content and limit of pages for the three sections Excellence, Impact and Implementation (25 Pages).

Evaluation Form: Specific

Relevant document: EIC Pathfinder open and Challenge Guidelines, available under Topic Conditions and Documents section of the Call for Proposals or via the EIC website dedicated webpage.

The link for EIC Pathfinder opportunities can be found at Search Funding & Tenders (europa.eu).