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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The EIC Pathfinder aims to fund high-risk, high-gain research and early-stage development (typically TRL 1-4) of breakthrough deep technologies with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. - Target recipients: Research teams, consortia of legal entities. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC (for Pathfinder Challenges) or SECTOR-AGNOSTIC (for Pathfinder Open). - Geographic scope: EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe. - Key filtering criteria: Focus on breakthrough deep tech, early TRLs, high scientific ambition. - Grant frequency: Recurring annual program, part of Horizon Europe.

Financial Structure

Grant funding up to €3 million for EIC Pathfinder Open projects (or more if duly justified).
Grant funding up to €4 million for EIC Pathfinder Challenges projects (or more if duly justified).
Projects can receive additional funding for testing the innovation potential of their research outputs.
Currency for all funding amounts is EUR.
A lump sum budget is required for EIC Pathfinder Challenges applications.
A lump sum budget is NOT required for EIC Pathfinder Open applications.
No co-financing or matching fund requirements are specified in the provided documents.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type

Eligible: Research teams, universities, research organizations, NGOs, SMEs, startups, other legal entities.
Consortia of at least 3 different independent legal entities are required for Pathfinder Open.
Single applicants are eligible ONLY for EIC Pathfinder Challenges.
Mid-caps and larger companies are NOT eligible as single applicants for Pathfinder Challenges.
Participation of SMEs or industrial partners is encouraged but not compulsory for consortia.

Geographic Location

Legal entities must be established in EU Member States or countries associated with the Horizon Europe programme.
For consortia: At least one legal entity must be established in an EU Member State.
For consortia: At least two other independent legal entities, each established in different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
For consortia of two (only for Pathfinder Challenges): Two independent legal entities from two different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Project Stage

Projects must focus on low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), typically ranging between TRL 1 and TRL 4.
The aim is to develop the scientific basis and proof of concept for future technologies.

General Requirements

Proposals must present an ambitious long-term vision for a radically new technology.
The technology must have the potential to create new markets and provide solutions for global challenges.
Research must be high-risk/high-gain breakthrough research.
For Pathfinder Challenges, projects must align with any of the predefined thematic areas.

Application Process

Application Deadlines

EIC Pathfinder Open: 21 May 2025 17:00:00+01:00
EIC Pathfinder Challenges: 29 October 2025 17:00:00+01:00

Submission Process

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal before the given deadline.
The application form consists of Part A (to be filled in directly online) and Part B (to be downloaded, completed, and then uploaded as a PDF).
Annexes and supporting documents must be uploaded as PDF and Excel files (or other formats allowed by the system).

Required Documentation

Part A includes administrative information about the applicant organizations, a summarized budget, and ethics and security questions.
Part B contains the technical description of the project.
For EIC Pathfinder Challenges, a detailed budget table (Excel) must be annexed to Part B to support the lump sum budget.

Post-Award Support and Obligations

Beneficiaries gain access to a range of tailor-made Business Acceleration Services (BAS), including coaching, mentoring, access to global partners, and networking.
EIC Pathfinder Challenges projects are expected to include a work package dedicated to portfolio activities and allocate at least 10 person-months to these activities.
EIC Pathfinder Open projects may be invited to join thematic portfolios during their execution (voluntary basis).
Expected project outputs include top-level scientific publications (open access) and formal protection of Intellectual Property (e.g., patent application).

Evaluation Criteria

Project Quality and Ambition

Evaluation assesses the ambition and vision for a radically new technology, its potential to create new markets and solve global challenges.
Focus on the high-risk/high-gain nature of the breakthrough research that provides the foundations of the envisioned technology.
Scientific and technological excellence of the proposed work.
Alignment with funder priorities and specific objectives, particularly for Pathfinder Challenges.

Impact and Outcomes

Expected to lead to top-level scientific publications in open access.
Must ensure adequate formal protection of Intellectual Property (e.g., patent application).
Requires an assessment of relevant aspects related to regulation, certification, and standardization.
For Pathfinder Open: The main expected outcome is the 'proof of principle' that the envisioned technology is feasible.
For Pathfinder Challenges: Expected outcomes are described in the specific Challenge text and Challenge Guide, contributing to Challenge Portfolio activities.

Implementation

Evaluation of the quality and efficiency of the implementation strategy for research, innovation, dissemination, and exploitation activities.
Assessment of the team composition and their qualifications.
For EIC Pathfinder Challenges, applicants are advised to include a work package dedicated to portfolio activities and allocate at least 10 person-months to these activities.

Tie-breaker Criteria (for Pathfinder Open with the same final score)

Proposals with a more balanced composition in terms of gender of work package leaders receive priority.
Consortia with a larger number of EU Member States and Associated Countries represented are assigned priority.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Intellectual Property

The main expected outcome of Pathfinder projects includes adequate formal protection of Intellectual Property (e.g., a patent application).
Ownership of results typically rests with the EIC Awardee (the institution employing the EIC Inventor).
EIC Inventors (researchers who developed inventions with EIC funding) have certain rights to exploit results if the Awardee does not provide adequate or timely support for exploitation.
Any transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results requires notification to EISMEA, which may object under specific conditions outlined in the Work Programme and grant agreement.

Regulatory Considerations

Projects are expected to include an assessment of relevant aspects related to regulation, certification, and standardization.

Strategic Alignment

The EIC Pathfinder projects are proactively managed by EIC Programme Managers to achieve specific portfolio objectives.
Successful Pathfinder projects may be eligible for the 'Fast Track' scheme, allowing direct submission to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator.
The 'Hop On' facility allows research institutions from 'widening countries' to join already ongoing R&I actions under the EIC Pathfinder.

Risk Management

The grant explicitly supports 'high-risk/high-gain' breakthrough research, acknowledging the inherent risks in deep tech development.

Inclusivity and Diversity

For EIC Pathfinder Open calls, gender balance among work package leaders is a factor in prioritizing proposals with the same final score.
The number of Member States and Associated Countries represented in a consortium is another factor for prioritizing equally scored proposals in EIC Pathfinder Open, promoting broader European collaboration.

Grant Details