EIC Pathfinder funds advanced research, supporting early stage development of future and emerging breakthrough, market-creating and/or deep tech technologies. Pathfinder is a funding instruments of The European Innovation Council (EIC).

There are two EIC Pathfinder funding instruments:

• Pathfinder Open supports projects in any field of science, technology or application without predefined thematic priorities.
• Pathfinder Challenges supports coherent portfolios of projects within predefined thematic areas.

Guidance, eligibility criteria and the specific annual Challenges are described in annual work programmes.

A successful Pathfinder proposal requires the following essential characteristics:

• Convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect to our economy and society.
• Concrete, novel and ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough, providing advancement towards the envisioned technology.
• High-risk/high-gain research approach and methodology, with concrete and plausible objectives.

Pathfinder Open: An EU contribution of up to EUR 3 million is considered as appropriate.

Pathfinder Challenges: An EU contribution of up to EUR 4 million is considered as appropriate.

Pathfinder Open: Usually in Marts.

Pathfinder Challenges: Usually in October.

Useful links and
further information: 

Funding and Tenders portal – reference documents

Research Support Office (RSO) web page: access to:

• RSO newsletters (including signing up for newsletters)
• Case and best practise interviews with AU researchers
• Info about RSO events and workshops

For support or questions regarding an application, please contact our Research Funding Advisors or send a mail to our mailbox.