EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 — Banebrydende Forskning

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Deep tech projects Taking forward breakthrough deep tech projects with a high degree of scientific and technological ambition and risk and potential to create a new market (TRL 1-4) The EIC Pathfinder is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to research teams by: funding research to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies supporting the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep-tech R&D aiming to build on new, cutting-edge directions in science and technology to disrupt a field and a market or create new opportunities realising innovative technological solutions to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and disruptive innovations in Europe Grants to support early stage development of future technologies (e.g. various activities at low TRL 1-4), up to proof of concept and booster grants for complementary activities: Grants - grants of up to EUR 4 million or more if duly justified Booster grants - grants of a fixed amount not exceeding EUR 50 000 for testing the commercialisation potential of their research outputs Access to a range of tailor-made Business Acceleration Services (BAS) for beneficiaries: Access to global partners Access to coaches, mentors, expertise and training Access to innovation ecosystem and peers For projects in any field of science, technology or application without predefined thematic priorities. The overall budget for the EIC Pathfinder Open in 2026 is €166 million Consortia from EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme Consortia of at least three different independent legal entities At least one legal entity established in a Member State At least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries Your proposal must meet all the following essential characteristics: Convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect to solving a challenge in 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 You must submit your proposal via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal before the given deadline. EIC Pathfinder Open: 12 May 2026 Fast Track scheme The Fast Track scheme allows specific treatment of proposals that result from existing Horizon Europe (including the EIC Pathfinder) to submit directly to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator. Hop On facility The Hop On facility allows research institutions from widening countries to join already ongoing R&I actions under the EIC Pathfinder and the Horizon Europe Pillar 2. European research institutions are excellent in conducting research, however, they tend to lose momentum when it comes to transforming research results into innovations and market opportunities. This is why the EIC has a team of experts with a track record in science, innovation strategy and management, the Programme Managers. The PMs pro-actively manage the portfolios of EIC-funded projects to support them in their push for technological and innovation breakthroughs. They identify possibilities for linking early research with emerging or existing market opportunities by fostering the translation from research results to innovation and commercialization. The European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced the results of the 2025 EIC Pathfinder Open call, awarding over €140 million to visionary research projects developing radically new technologies with the potential to create future markets. The 2025 call drew record interest from the research community, with proposals received from 71 countries. Following evaluation, 44 projects were selected for funding. The selected consortia bring together universities (48%), private companies (27%) and research organisations (25%), to explore breakthrough ideas in fields such as quantum technologies, advanced materials, health, energy, and artificial intelligence. In addition to financial support, the selected projects will benefit from tailor-made coaching, mentoring, and networking opportunities through the EIC Business Acceleration Services, helping them translate their scientific vision into real-world innovation and impact. Examples of the selected projects include: CEREBRIS tackles one of today’s most pressing health challenges: neurological disease. The project is developing a secure, federated, and explainable AI ecosystem for stroke care, capable of learning from diverse patient data such as brain scans, motion patterns, and neural signals. By enabling hospitals to collaborate without sharing raw data, CEREBRIS ensures privacy while improving diagnostics and rehabilitation outcomes. They aim to transform the entire stroke-care pathway—from early diagnosis to recovery—reducing long-term disability and healthcare costs worldwide. Superspin aims to achieve a major milestone in quantum communication by creating the technology to link a superconducting quantum computer with a spin-based quantum memory operating at different frequencies. The project will develop innovative devices to convert quantum signals between microwave and optical regimes, allowing distant quantum systems to interact. This breakthrough will provide a building block for interconnected quantum networks, enabling scalable, secure, and high-performance quantum technologies in Europe. Fiber3D pioneers a new fabrication method that integrates optical fibre sensors directly into metal structures using advanced 3D-printing and spraying techniques. This innovation allows real-time monitoring of temperature and strain in critical infrastructure such as railways, hydrogen pipelines, and nuclear power plants, dramatically improving safety, sustainability, and maintenance efficiency. Background information The Pathfinder programme supports visionary ideas for radically new technologies. It promotes high-risk/high-gain, interdisciplinary collaborations focused on early-stage technology development (Technology Readiness Levels 1–3), up to proof of concept. Funded projects benefit not only from grants of up to €3-4 million, but also from direct engagement with EIC Programme Managers. Additional funding opportunities are available to explore the innovative potential of research results or to support collaborative portfolio actions.