EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 – Targeted Deep Tech Research for Breakthrough Technologies (Advanced Materials, Healthy Ageing, Cognitive AI)

EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 support portfolios of ambitious research and innovation projects that aim to realise cutting‑edge technological solutions grounded in high‑risk/high‑gain research, each aligned to a specific challenge area. Unlike the open Pathfinder call, Challenges are thematic, with each challenge overseen by a dedicated Programme Manager who steers a portfolio of projects towards shared objectives through common roadmaps, joint activities and continuous interactions among projects.​

Projects typically start at early TRLs (around TRL 2) and are expected to reach proof of concept or lab‑scale validation (TRL 3–4) by the end of the project, generating top‑level scientific publications, robust IP protection, and regulatory/standardisation assessments. Proposals must directly address the expected outcomes of the specific challenge and are encouraged to bring together multidisciplinary teams, including excellent early‑career researchers, high‑tech SMEs/start‑ups, and to ensure gender balance among work package leaders.​

The EIC Pathfinder Challenges call has an indicative total budget of EUR 96 million, which is expected to be distributed in roughly equal shares across the individual challenges. Funded projects receive a Research and Innovation Action grant with 100% funding rate, using a lump‑sum model (applicants propose the lump sum based on estimated costs) and are advised to include a dedicated work package for portfolio activities with at least 10 person‑months. In addition to grant support, projects gain tailor‑made Business Acceleration Services, interactions with EIC Programme Managers and access to Booster Grants (up to EUR 50 000), EIC Transition, Fast Track to EIC Accelerator, and the Next Generation Innovation Talents scheme.​

Three featured Challenges:​

• Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems: Focused on new advanced materials to enable miniaturised integrated energy harvesting devices (e.g. miniaturised solar cells, thermoelectric generators, piezoelectric and nanotribological devices), integrated into energy‑autonomous systems such as wireless sensors, and benchmarked at TRL 4 in representative use cases. The goal is to improve energy autonomy for IoT and sensor networks, reduce reliance on critical raw materials and support sustainability in line with RePowerEU and the Green Deal.​
• Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing: Aims to translate ageing biology into tangible biopharmaceutical solutions by funding: (1) preventive/therapeutic biotechnology or pharmaceutical interventions that target fundamental ageing processes and show proof‑of‑concept in physiologically aged vertebrate models; (2) biomarker‑based tools to enable responsible deployment of ageing interventions; and (3) new approach methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to animal testing for developing ageing interventions. The portfolio targets interventions, biomarkers and NAMs, addressing scientific, regulatory and societal challenges around healthy ageing.​
• DeepRAP – Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems: Seeks to move beyond current generative and deep learning AI by developing novel AI frameworks and architectures (including neuro‑symbolic AI) that significantly enhance reasoning, abstraction and planning capabilities, with trustworthiness, explainability, transparency, fairness and alignment with the EU AI Act built in. Projects are expected to demonstrate integrated cognitive AI systems at TRL 4 on complex real‑world tasks (e.g. scientific discovery, decision support), develop new evaluation benchmarks and metrics, and build synergies with EU AI initiatives and infrastructures.​

Each Challenge uses a portfolio approach, selecting a set of complementary projects (e.g. across different materials, energy‑harvesting phenomena and application domains; across interventions/biomarkers/NAMs in ageing; or across AI capability, technology and application categories) and organising shared portfolio activities such as benchmarking, joint pilots, interoperability efforts and coordinated communication.​

Countries eligible to apply

EIC Pathfinder Challenges follow the standard Horizon Europe country rules and the specific eligibility rules outlined in the work programme:​

• Collaborative (consortia) projects:
  • Consortia of two entities: Must consist of two independent legal entities from two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
  • Consortia of three or more entities: Must include at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different eligible country, as follows:
    • At least one legal entity established in an EU Member State, and
    • At least two other independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country.​
• Single‑beneficiary projects:
  • Allowed for certain Pathfinder Challenges if explicitly permitted in the specific Challenge description.
  • The single legal entity must be established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country.
  • Mid‑caps and large companies are not allowed as single beneficiaries (only e.g. universities, research organisations, SMEs, start‑ups, or natural persons).​

Eligible types of legal entities include universities, research organisations, SMEs, start‑ups and natural persons, with the caveat above for single‑beneficiary projects. Applicants from third countries can participate according to the general Horizon Europe rules in Annex 2 (typically as additional partners, with or without funding, but they do not count for the minimum consortium composition unless their country is an Associated Country).​

Proposals involving the evolution of European communication networks (5G, post‑5G and related technologies) may be subject to specific security‑related restrictions for the protection of European communication networks, as outlined in Annex II, Section B1.​

Funding amount and support

Key financial and support parameters for EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 are:​

• Total indicative budget: EUR 96 million, expected to be distributed approximately equally across the different Challenges.
• Type of grant: Research and Innovation Action (RIA).
• Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs.
• Grant form: Lump sum, applicants must propose the lump‑sum amount based on realistic project cost estimates, with the final lump sum fixed during evaluation in line with the Horizon Europe lump‑sum decision.
• Typical EU contribution per project: The EIC considers requests of up to EUR 4 million as appropriate, though higher amounts can be requested if well justified or if specified otherwise in the specific Challenge description.

Beyond the core grant, projects may be eligible for:​

• Booster grants (fixed amount up to EUR 50 000) for commercialisation pathway exploration or portfolio activities.
• EIC Transition funding (subject to eligibility).
• Fast Track to EIC Accelerator for innovation‑driven SMEs.
• Participation in Next Generation Innovation Talents, with personnel costs of participating researchers eligible under Pathfinder grants.

Key dates

For the EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 call (common part, as specified in the pages you are using):​

• Call opening date: 28 July 2025 (the Director‑General responsible may open the call up to one month earlier or later).
• Call deadline: 28 October 2026, 17:00 (Brussels local time) – proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by this deadline.

Evaluation and grant preparation timelines (indicative):​

• Applicants are informed of the evaluation outcome within 5 months after the call deadline.
• Grant agreements are expected to be signed within 8 months after the call deadline.

The technical Part B (sections 1–3) of the proposal, covering Excellence, Impact and Implementation, is limited to a maximum of 30 A4 pages.​

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