← Back to the funding database
AllGrantOpen
European Innovation Council
EIC Pathfinder
Amount
Up to €4M
Deadline
Rolling
Odds
~4-5% acceptance
Effort
2-6 weeks
Can you get this?
✓Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities
✓Entities from EU or Horizon Europe associated countries
✓Early-stage deep tech R&D (TRL 1-4)
✓Single applicants allowed for Pathfinder Challenges only
✓High-risk, high-gain research approach required
Your real odds
The 2025 Challenges call funded roughly 30 projects from 667 submissions, and the 2026 Open call alone drew 2,103 proposals, putting acceptance rates around 4 to 5 percent.
The total 2026 budget across both tracks is €262 million, but volume is brutal, and the proposals that win are both scientifically ambitious and precisely articulated.
What it takes
Confirm eligibility and find consortium partners from different countries2-6 weeks
Develop a full proposal via the EU Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal, addressing long-term vision, novel science-to-technology breakthrough, and high-risk methodology6-12 weeks
Submit before the relevant deadline (Open or Challenges track)1 day
Worth knowing
Pathfinder Challenges has predefined thematic areas and accepts single applicants alongside two-partner consortia, so if your research fits one of the 2026 challenge topics, it is a more accessible entry point than the Open call.
What else do you qualify for?
Filter nearly 3,000 opportunities by identity, stage, and region.
Select all three to see your result.
$50B+ in available capital across grants, VC funds, CDFIs, and accelerators. Filter by your industry, stage, and region, and see everything you qualify for.
Explore the funding database →
$19/month · cancel anytime