The European Commission has launched a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program and the European Innovation Council: EIC Pathfinder Open 2026, which funds the early stages of scientific research aimed at developing radically new technologies or innovations capable of creating new markets, addressing significant societal needs, and tackling global challenges. The deadline for submitting proposals is May 12, 2026.
Pathfinder Open supports deep tech projects that aim to achieve breakthrough scientific and technological advances with high ambition, high risk, and the potential to create new markets. It focuses on early-stage research and innovation (TRL 1-4) with a budget of up to €4 million per project. Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three partners.
This year, several new features await applicants:
- The call now uses lump sum financing (in this context, the page limit for applications has been increased to 22 pages)
- The maximum contribution per project has been increased to EUR 4 million.
- It is possible to attach a larger number of attachments to the application portal (e.g., on ethical and safety issues or an attachment with additional information).
Detailed information on the call and documents for applicants can be found at: HERE.
Source: ec.europa.eu, horizontevropa.cz