EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026
Research Service
Submission deadline: 28 October 2026
Submission deadline: 28 October 2026
Deadline: 28 October 2026, 17:00 CEST
The EIC Pathfinder is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that supports research teams exploring radically new ideas for future technologies. It funds high-risk, high-gain science and deep-tech research (TRL 1–4) with the potential to deliver disruptive innovations and long-term impact.
EIC Pathfinder Challenges support coherent portfolios of projects within predefined thematic areas with the aim to achieve specific objectives for each Challenge.
- Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems
- Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing
- DeepRAP: Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems
Eligibility
The EIC Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative or individual research and innovation projects from consortia or from single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country (unless stated otherwise in the specific Challenge chapter).
The legal entities may, for example, be universities, research organisations, SMEs, startups, or industrial partners.
Swiss participants should apply as standard Beneficiaries. Swiss partners’ budgets must be included in the total amount of project funding requested by the consortium from the EU. Coordinator is possibile for CH partners.
Funding and evaluation
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Up to EUR 4 million per project
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Lump sum funding scheme
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Eligible costs: personnel, travels, equipment and other goods & services
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Funding rate 100% (EC rules apply, 25% of overheads included)
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~ EUR 96 million total allocated, ~30 proposals funded
Results are expected within 5 months from the call deadline (indicative).
More information
EIC Pathfinder Challenges website
Contact: Sara Caspani