Library FAQ
What are Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)?
PICs integrate passive and active optical components to increase data capacity and reduce power consumption in ICT, with silicon photonics enabling techniques like Mode-Division and Wavelength-Division Multiplexing.
What are ultra-thin 2D materials and examples relevant to electronics?
Ultra-thin 2D semiconductors include transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, and WSe2, as well as MXenes and twisted 2D materials, characterised by body thicknesses under 1 nm and absence of dangling bonds.
What are ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors and their applications?
UWBG semiconductors such as AlN, Ga2O3, and diamond offer electrical properties suited to high-efficiency power devices, high-temperature applications, and solar-blind photodetectors for power electronics.
What environmental and social impacts could bio-based electronics have in the next five to ten years?
They could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electronic waste, drive innovation in recycling, increase availability of eco-friendly consumer products, and foster standardised fabrication and recycling processes across the supply chain.
What is brain-inspired or neuromorphic computing?
Neuromorphic computing mimics brain neurons and synapses using digital, analog, or mixed circuits integrated with memory cells to achieve highly efficient computation for tasks like pattern recognition and data mining.
What is new about neuromorphic computing compared with traditional AI hardware?
Neuromorphic systems use non‑von Neumann architectures—memristive devices, photonic synapses and CMOS integration—to replicate neural functions with extreme power efficiency, with demonstrations of sub-femtojoule energy per bit in some material integrations.
What is new in PIC technology?
Key novelties include integration of non-native materials (e.g., thin-film lithium niobate), development of programmable photonic chips, and use of TFLN's non-linear properties for high-speed modulators and laser components.
What is novel about twisted 2D materials and MXenes?
Twisted 2D materials allow tuning of optical behaviour and interlayer coupling via adjustable twist angles, while MXenes enable multifunctional sensors and enhanced properties for power electronics and environmental monitoring.
Which technologies serve as synaptic elements in neuromorphic chips?
Non-volatile memory devices such as ReRAM, phase-change materials (PCM), and FeFETs are emerging candidates for synaptic elements in neuromorphic architectures.
Why are 2D materials promising for low-power and highly scaled electronics?
Their ultra-thin body and lack of dangling bonds provide excellent electrostatic control and high bandgaps (1.6–2 eV), enabling very low off-state currents, superior scalability, and aggressive channel-length scaling for energy-efficient devices.
Why are bio-based and biodegradable electronics considered sustainable?
They reduce reliance on toxic and non-recyclable materials, support circular-economy principles, and aim to lower the environmental impact of the electronics industry.
How and when must Pathfinder Challenge proposals be submitted?
Proposals must be submitted via the European Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. The call deadline is 27 October 2021 at 17:00 Brussels time. Sections 1–3 of Part B (Excellence, Impact, Quality and Efficiency of Implementation) must be a maximum of 25 A4 pa...
How does portfolio selection work in Pathfinder Challenges?
The evaluation committee considers scores and each proposal’s contribution to a consistent portfolio. Proposals are categorised (e.g., building blocks, technical areas, risk level, size) and a suitable portfolio is selected from the highest scoring proposals p...
What are EIC Pathfinder Challenges?
Pathfinder Challenges aim to build on cutting-edge science and technology to disrupt a field or create new opportunities via high-risk/high-gain R&D. They require multidisciplinary collaborations, form portfolios of projects exploring different or complementar...
What are the expectations and next steps if a Pathfinder proposal is retained for funding?
The coordinator receives a letter with next steps for grant agreement signature. Grant preparation and signature are expected within three months. The Project Officer and the EIC Programme Manager will contact the project; you must collaborate with other portf...
What are the resubmission rules following face-to-face interviews with EIC juries?
If the jury rejects once but identifies the proposal as a potential Go with targeted improvements, you may be invited to resubmit a revised application directly to one of the next two face-to-face interviews (only once). If rejected once (including if awarded...
What are the resubmission rules for remote evaluation of full Accelerator proposals?
If rejected once, you may resubmit directly to remote evaluation at one of the next two cut-offs but should have made improvements. If rejected a second time, you cannot submit for 12 months, after which only a new or significantly improved proposal to the sho...
What are the resubmission rules for short Accelerator applications?
If rejected once, you may resubmit to the short application stage at any time but are expected to have made improvements. If rejected a second time, you cannot submit another application for 12 months, after which only a new or significantly improved proposal...
What are the specific objectives and conditions of the 'Awareness Inside' Pathfinder Challenge?
The challenge seeks new concepts of awareness applicable to non-human systems, methods to recognise or measure such awareness, and elucidation of relations between complexity, information structure, perception, distributed vs centralized and time awareness. Pr...
What does the 'Tools to measure and stimulate activity in brain tissue' Challenge focus on?
This Challenge focuses on developing medical devices to measure and stimulate brain activity to treat brain disorders. It highlights limitations of existing devices (invasiveness, limited miniaturisation, poor resolution, limited spatial coverage) and opportun...
What evaluation criteria are used for the EIC Accelerator applications?
Applications are assessed under Excellence, Impact, and Level of risk/implementation/need for Union support. Subcriteria include breakthrough and market-creating nature, timing, technological feasibility (full only), intellectual property (full only), scale-up...
What feedback do applicants receive after evaluation?
All applicants receive a collation of comments from individual evaluator reports or excerpts. Applicants of proposals above threshold assessed further by the evaluation committee also receive summary comments of the committee’s assessment.
What funding and support does the Pathfinder Challenge call provide?
The total indicative budget is EUR 132 million (roughly equally across challenges). Projects receive a Research and Innovation Action grant covering eligible costs, with a funding rate of 100%. Proposals with an EU contribution up to EUR 4 million are consider...
What Impact subcriteria are evaluated for Accelerator applications?
Short and full applications are assessed for scale-up potential and broader impact. Full applications are additionally assessed for market fit and competitor analysis, commercialisation strategy, and identification and engagement of key partners.