What is supported?
EIC Pathfinder supports the exploration of bold ideas for radically new technologies. It welcomes high-risk / high gain and interdisciplinary cutting-edge science collaborations that underpin technological breakthroughs.
Applicants
Applicants participating in EIC Pathfinder projects are typically visionary scientists, entrepreneurial researchers and, research organisations, start-ups, high-tech SMEs and industrial stakeholders interested in technological R&I.
Projects typically involve consortia of researchers and other partners from at least 3 different countries, but there are also opportunities for individual teams and small consortia (2 partners).
Funding available
Up to 3 to 4 million euro support early stage development of future technologies (Technology Readiness Levels 1-3), up to proof of concept. Pathfinder projects can also receive additional funding for testing the innovation potential of their research outputs.
The EIC Pathfinder programme consists of a combination of both open and challenge driven funding.
Open Funding
The majority of funding is for EIC Pathfinder Open which provides funding for projects in any field of science or technology, based on high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough interdisciplinary research.
Strategic EIC Pathfinder Challenges:
EIC Pathfinder funding is also available for specific challenges (in 2021):
1. Challenge: Awareness inside:
For projects to develop new concepts of awareness that are applicable to systems other than human; to demonstrate and validate the role and added-value of such awareness in an aware technology, class of artefacts or services; and to define an integrative approach for awareness engineering, its technological toolbox, the needs and implications and its limits, including ethical and regulatory requirements.
2. Challenge: Tools to measure & stimulate activity in brain tissue:
For projects to develop novel neurotechnologies to diagnose or treat brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerve-related disorders and which can be rapidly accepted by clinicians and patients.
3. Challenge: Emerging Technologies in Cell & Gene Therapy:
For breakthrough projects that propose novel concept-based technological solutions or technological platforms far beyond the current state-of-the-art with the aim of tackling current bottlenecks from discovery to the manufacturing step towards clinical grade and thus, reinforce critical components of the European cell and gene therapy innovation-driven community.
4. Challenge Engineered living material:
For projects to develop new technologies and platforms for the controlled and made-on-demand production of engineered living materials with multiple functionalities, shapes and scales.
More information on the call on Enspire Science website.