GrantEquity-free European Union
EIC Pathfinder
European Innovation Council (EIC)
Apply / official page ↗Typical funding
Grants up to around €4M per project, within a budget envelope of about €262M in 2026.
Maximum
Up to €4M per project.
Startup stage
Pre‑startup consortia and research teams; foundation for future deep‑tech spinoffs.
Sector focus
Breakthrough deep‑tech across diverse scientific domains.
Overview
Grant programme for visionary, high‑risk research by multidisciplinary teams that can lead to future technology breakthroughs.
Who's eligible
Consortia of research teams from eligible countries undertaking visionary research with breakthrough potential.
How to apply
Apply via EU Funding & Tenders portal under EIC Pathfinder calls (Open and Challenges).
Good to know
Pathfinder projects often feed into EIC Transition and later Accelerator applications.