EIC Pathfinder Challenges

EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES aim to build on new, breakthrough directions in science and technology to transform a field and market or create new opportunities by realizing innovative technological solutions based on high-risk, high-benefit (TRL 1-4) research and development. Individual applicants or small consortia (two partners) may apply for Pathfinder Challenges according to the call specifications. Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative research and innovation by consortia or applications by single legal entities (unless otherwise specified in the relevant challenge chapter). In the case of a consortium, your proposal must be submitted by the coordinator on behalf of the consortium, which must include at least two independent legal entities. Basic application requirements:

Profile of participants. Spin-offs, start-ups, research institutions, universities, SMEs, large companies, others. In the case of projects with only one beneficiary, medium-sized and larger companies are not eligible.

They must be coordinated with the program managers:

Relevance to the Challenge: How relevant are the objectives of the project to the overall goal and specific objectives of the Challenge?
Novelty: How novel and ambitious are the proposed technological breakthroughs compared to the state of the art? How relevant and effective are they in achieving the expected outcomes of the Challenge?
Methodology plausibility: to what extent is the research, development, and innovation methodology described in the proposal appropriate to achieve the objectives? How plausible is it that the objectives outlined in the proposal will be achieved within the project duration?

EIC Pathfinder Challenges Budget: €120 million (expected to be divided approximately equally among the challenges). The challenges are:

• Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing
• Generative-AI based Agents to Revolutionize Medical Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer
• Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments
• Waste-to-value devices: Circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials.

Grant of up to €4 million. The funding rate of this grant is 100% of eligible costs.