Grant program Active
EIC Pathfinder
Early-stage EIC grants for high-risk, high-gain research on breakthrough technologies — typically collaborative consortia advancing radically new device/design concepts toward proof of principle.
✓ 3 Jul 2026
Key parameters
| Instrument | Research grant (TRL ~1–4) |
|---|---|
| Typical grant | ~€3–4M per project |
| Form | Consortia (Open) or single/teams (Challenges) |
Eligibility
- HQ
- Applying entity must be established in the EU or an associated country
- Local presence
- Separate legal entity required The applicant must be a separate legal person (e.g. GmbH, BV, SARL) — a branch office of a foreign company does not qualify here.
- R&D substance
- Not required
- Company size
- No size restriction
- Models
- All
- Sectors
- All
- Goals
- R&D cooperation without own site; Additional design site in Europe
Aimed at early-stage research; applicants (usually a consortium including research organisations) must be established in the EU or an associated country.
Mechanism & application
Discretionary (call-based) — Competitive, call-based — requires approval; success not guaranteed.
Apply to EIC Pathfinder Open or Challenges calls with a research proposal.
Timeline: 6–9 months from call to grant
Legal basis & sources
- Legal basis
- Horizon Europe Regulation (EU) 2021/695; EIC Work Programme
- Verification
- EIC Work Programme 2026
from 1 Jan 2021 until no expiry review 1 Dec 2026
Related
See also