EIC Pathfinder Beneficiaries' Day 2024: an online briefing on exploitation, IP and proactive project management
- ›The EIC Pathfinder Beneficiaries' Day 2024 will be held online on 20 November 2024 for all researchers in EIC Pathfinder projects.
- ›The event presents services to support exploitation of Pathfinder results, including EIC Business Acceleration Services and regulatory and IP guidance.
- ›Registration is free but by invitation and coordinated through the Pathfinder project coordinator. Registration opens in the second half of September.
- ›Sessions will explain obligations on protection and exploitation of Key Exploitable Results and what first steps researchers should take toward commercialisation.
EIC Pathfinder Beneficiaries' Day 2024
The Pathfinder Unit of the European Innovation Council is organising an online Beneficiaries' Day on 20 November 2024 aimed at researchers participating in EIC Pathfinder projects. The event is positioned as a practical briefing on services and processes that can help translate early stage, high risk research outcomes into exploitable results. Presentations will cover business acceleration, intellectual property, regulatory pathways and proactive project management. Attendance is free but requires registration by invitation from the project coordinator.
Why this event matters
EIC Pathfinder grants typically support early, high risk research that may produce technological building blocks but not immediate market ready products. Beneficiaries often need help with the next steps such as identifying Key Exploitable Results, protecting intellectual property, validating a value proposition and navigating sector specific regulation. The Beneficiaries' Day bundles introductions to several EU support mechanisms in one forum and explains the EIC's expectations about protection and exploitation of results.
Date, format and how to register
The event will take place online on 20 November 2024. The agenda will be published on the event page when available. Participation is free of charge but open only by invitation. The coordinator of each Pathfinder project will receive an invitation to register and must supply the names and contact details of project researchers and team leaders. Once the coordinator submits the details researchers will receive a confirmation email with the event link and some preparatory questions. Registration is scheduled to open in the second half of September 2024.
Sessions and services featured
Speakers will introduce a set of EU services that are commonly used to support commercialisation, IP protection and regulatory readiness. The event opens with remarks from the EIC Board President and offers a live question and answer facility using Sli.do. The organisers say participants will learn when and how to apply to specific services and what outputs to expect.
| Service | Topics covered | Who it targets |
| EIC Business Acceleration Services | Tailored support for exploitation strategy, market validation, investor readiness and scaling pathways | Project teams seeking translation or follow on funding |
| EIC Women Leadership Programme | Leadership training, mentorship and skills for women researchers aiming for leadership or commercial roles | Women researchers and team leaders |
| Horizon Results Booster | Support to identify exploitation routes, prepare commercialisation plans and access markets | Researchers and project teams preparing exploitation activities |
| EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) | IP registration, trademark guidance and EU level IP procedures | Teams seeking trademark or design protection in the EU |
| European IP HelpDesk | Advice on IPR strategy, patent landscape and contract related IP issues | Researchers and SMEs needing practical IP guidance |
| European Medicines Agency services | Regulatory advice and procedures relevant to medicinal products and related medical technologies | Teams working on health related technologies that may fall under EMA remit |
| EIC Programme Management and Pathfinder Project Officer support | Information on proactive project and portfolio management, reporting expectations and challenge portfolio practices | Coordinators and project officers managing Pathfinder projects |
Practical guidance the event will cover
Organisers promise to explain who should apply to each service and when. Sessions will detail expected outputs and first practical steps. The event is also intended to explain what proactive management of Pathfinder Open projects looks like in practice, particularly for projects that are part of an EIC Pathfinder Challenge portfolio where a thematic portfolio manager may intervene to coordinate across projects and mitigate portfolio level risks.
What participants should prepare before registration
Coordinators will need to collect details for all researchers and team leaders to secure invitations. Researchers should be ready to describe any Key Exploitable Results, indicate interest in commercialisation, and consent to receive follow up information. Prepare short summaries of research outputs and current exploitation thinking to get the most from the sessions.
| Item | Why it matters | Suggested preparation |
| Researcher contact details | Needed for invitation and event link | Name, role, email, affiliation |
| Short KER description | Helps match participants to relevant sessions | One paragraph describing the output and potential use |
| Exploitation interest | Organisers will offer tailored services based on interest | Indicate whether you seek IP protection, commercialisation, regulatory advice or team building |
| Consent for event communications | Organisers will follow up with resources and service invitations | Be prepared to accept emails and complete short preparatory questions |
Interaction, agenda and follow up
During the event participants will be able to ask questions using Sli.do. The agenda will be posted on the event page once finalised. Coordinators and attendees should also monitor EISMEA social channels including X and LinkedIn for updates. After the event expect follow up communications outlining next steps and how to access the services presented.
Registration, access and contact
Registration is free and upon invitation only. The coordinator of each Pathfinder grant will receive the registration invitation and must submit the list of researchers and team leaders. Once submitted researchers will receive a confirmation with the event link and preparatory questions. If you need help contact the organisers through the EIC Community contact form selecting EIC Pathfinder Beneficiaries' Day 2024 as the subject.
A cautious note on expectations
Events that bring multiple support services together are valuable for orientation but they are not a substitute for bespoke, hands on support. The sessions will describe what services exist and how to apply. Researchers should be realistic about the lead time for receiving tailored support and for any regulatory or IP processes. Invitations and registration capacity may limit places and the coordinator based invitation process can delay access for individual researchers if coordinators do not act promptly.
Grantees should also be prepared for administrative requests from programme managers as part of proactive project management. This can add workload but is intended to align project activities with exploitation pathways. It is sensible to treat the event as the start of a longer process rather than a one off fix.
Follow the event and further resources
Keep an eye on the event page for the full agenda and follow EISMEA channels on X and LinkedIn for announcements. The EIC Business Acceleration Services and Horizon Results Booster have web pages with application details and timelines that researchers should consult ahead of any follow up.
This information is provided to support knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission or any other organisation.