EIC Pathfinder Challenges: grants of up to 4 million euro for deep-tech research, until 28 October

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has opened the EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 call. The budget is 96 million euro, split across three technology challenges: advanced materials for energy harvesting, biotechnology for healthy ageing and trustworthy cognitive artificial intelligence. A project can receive an indicative amount of up to 4 million euro, and the funding covers 100% of eligible costs. Universities, research institutes, SMEs and start-ups from Romania can apply, alone or in a consortium. The deadline is 28 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.

In brief

• Programme: EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 (Horizon Europe)
• Authority: European Commission – European Innovation Council (EIC)
• Beneficiaries: consortia or individual applicants (universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, natural persons)
• Total budget: 96 million euro, split in roughly equal shares between the three challenges
• Value per project / intensity: up to 4 million euro EU contribution (larger amounts may be requested if justified), funding of 100% of eligible costs, in the form of a lump sum
• Submission period: until 28 October 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time)
• Status: call open

Which projects are funded?

Pathfinder Challenges funds high-risk research that can lead to radically new technologies. According to the EIC Work Programme 2026, projects usually start from an early technology readiness level (TRL 2) and must reach proof of concept or laboratory validation (TRL 3 or 4). In 2026 there are three challenges:

• Advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesting systems (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-01): new materials for energy harvesting modules (for example miniaturised solar cells, thermoelectric generators, piezoelectric devices). The aim is energy-autonomous sensors and systems, validated at TRL 4, that depend less on critical raw materials.
• Biotechnology for healthy ageing (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-02): biotechnological or pharmaceutical interventions that prevent, delay or reverse age-related diseases, biomarker-based tools or new methodologies that can replace animal testing (NAM). Precision nutrition, new "ageing clocks" and wellness applications are not covered by this call.
• DeepRAP – reasoning, abstraction and planning for trustworthy cognitive AI systems (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-03): approaches beyond classical deep learning, for example neuro-symbolic AI. Projects must demonstrate a system at TRL 4 and trust mechanisms aligned with the EU AI Act.

Who can apply?

Unlike the EIC Pathfinder Open call, Challenges also allows applications from a single entity. The rules are:

• individual applicant: an entity established in an EU Member State or an associated country. Mid-cap enterprises and large companies cannot apply on their own.
• consortium of two entities: independent entities from two different Member States or associated countries;
• consortium of three or more entities: at least three independent entities, each from a different country, at least one of them from a Member State.

The programme gives examples of eligible entities: universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups and natural persons. Proposals that touch European communication networks (5G, post-5G) are subject to additional restrictions.

What does a funded project receive?

The grant is a Research and Innovation Action covering 100% of eligible costs. Payment is made as a lump sum, which the applicant proposes on the basis of estimated costs, while the final amount is set at evaluation. The EIC recommends a work package dedicated to portfolio activities, with at least 10 person-months.

Besides the funding, beneficiaries gain access to EIC accelerator services. They can also request "Booster" grants of up to 50,000 euro to explore commercialisation. Later they can apply to EIC Transition or enter the Fast Track procedure for the EIC Accelerator.

How do you apply and how are applications assessed?

The application is submitted on the Funding & Tenders Portal, by 28 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Sections 1–3 of part B of the proposal may have at most 30 A4 pages.

The evaluation has two stages:

1. Each proposal is scored by at least three experts. The criteria are excellence (weighting 50%, threshold 4/5), impact (30%, threshold 3.5/5) and quality of implementation (20%, threshold 3/5).
2. From the proposals that pass the thresholds, the evaluation committee selects a coherent portfolio of projects for each challenge. The highest-scoring projects are not necessarily the ones funded: how they complement the rest of the portfolio also matters.

Indicatively, the result is communicated about 5 months after the deadline, and the contract is signed about 8 months after the deadline.

What this means for your business

The recommendations below are the opinion of our consultants, not official conditions of the call.

The call is best suited to deep-tech start-ups and SMEs with their own research team, especially those already working with a university or an institute. For an ordinary company with no research activity, the chances are slim: the evaluation emphasises scientific novelty and the aim of going beyond the current state of the art.

• Time is short. There are about four weeks left until the deadline. If you do not already have a project idea and partners, it is more realistic to target next year's EIC calls.
• Read the challenge guide. For each topic there is a Challenge Guide, published on the EIC website, which shows the categories used to build the portfolio. A good proposal placed in a category that is already covered may remain unfunded.
• The lump-sum budget must be calculated realistically. Overestimated or underestimated costs appear in the evaluation report and can lead to rejection.
• Protection of results counts towards your score. Include an intellectual property protection plan and an analysis of regulatory and standardisation aspects.
• A consortium can be stronger than an individual application. Even if you can apply alone, an academic partner from another EU country can make up for the lack of your own research infrastructure.

If you are not sure which programme suits you, you can start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Romanian company apply alone to EIC Pathfinder Challenges?

Yes. An SME or a start-up established in Romania, as an EU Member State, can submit a proposal on its own. Mid-cap enterprises and large companies cannot apply alone, only in a consortium.

How much can a project receive and what percentage of costs does the grant cover?

The EIC considers an EU contribution of up to 4 million euro per project to be appropriate. Larger amounts can be requested if well justified. The funding covers 100% of eligible costs, as a lump sum set at evaluation.

What is the submission deadline?

Proposals are submitted on the Funding & Tenders Portal by 28 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. The work programme allows the Commission to postpone the deadline by up to two months, so check the call page before submitting.

What technology readiness level must the project have?

As a rule, projects start at TRL 2 and reach proof of concept or laboratory validation (TRL 3–4). The call does not fund market-ready products. For those there are other EIC instruments, such as Transition or Accelerator.

When will the result be known?

Indicatively, applicants are notified about 5 months after the deadline, and funding contracts are signed about 8 months after the deadline.

Official sources

• EIC – EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026
• EIC – EIC Pathfinder programme page
• EIC Work Programme 2026 – C(2026) 4080 (PDF)

Information checked on 26 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.