Library FAQ
What key innovation metrics are reported for Pathfinder projects?
27% of innovations have potential to create new markets, 50% target emerging markets, >1,150 are judged very or obviously innovative, 40% of projects had at least one industry partner, 25% reported a patent application, and 12% led to a spin-off.
How are 'women-led SMEs' and 'women-led consortia' defined?
Women-led SMEs have a woman as CEO, CTO or CSO at time of application, interview and award. Women-led consortia have a woman as consortium coordinator and at least 50% of Work Package leaders (including the coordinator) are women at time of application, interv...
How does the EIC define 'deep tech'?
Deep tech is technology based on cutting-edge scientific advances, requiring constant interaction with new ideas and lab results. It has potential for transformative solutions rooted in cutting-edge science, technology and engineering, possibly combining advan...
How does the EIC define Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)?
SMEs are enterprises with fewer than 250 persons and either an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. Under the EIC, this category includes start-ups.
What are EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)?
BAS are support services for EIC Awardees and other eligible organisations to aid innovation development and commercialisation, including access to coaches and training, services of EIC Ecosystem Partners, and access to global partners (corporates, investors,...
What are EIC business coaches?
EIC business coaches are independent external experts with entrepreneurial and investment backgrounds who provide business development insights and guidance to EIC Awardees and applicants.
What are Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and how are TRL1–TRL9 described?
TRLs guide the stage of development and accompany market and business readiness. TRL1: Basic principles observed. TRL2: Technology concept formulated. TRL3: Experimental proof of concept. TRL4: Technology validated in lab. TRL5: Technology validated in relevan...
What are the gatekeepers for applying to EIC Pathfinder Open?
Proposals must show a convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology with transformative potential, a concrete novel ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough advancing the envisioned technology, and a high-risk/high-gain research approach w...
What are the Seal of Excellence and the Sovereignty (STEP) Seal?
The Seal of Excellence is a quality label for excellent proposals not funded due to lack of budget and helps access other funding and BAS. The STEP Seal is awarded to proposals meeting thresholds in calls contributing to the Strategic Technologies for Europe P...
What does the EIC Fund Manager do and where are its guidelines found?
The EIC Fund Manager makes investment and divestment decisions on companies selected through the EIC Accelerator call, following due diligence by the EIB according to the EIC Investment Guidelines. More information is available in the EIC Investment Guidelines...
What EU rules does the EIC apply regarding money laundering, terrorism financing and tax offences?
The EIC applies EU rules, policies and procedures addressing money laundering, terrorism financing, tax avoidance, tax fraud and tax evasion contained in Article 158(2)(a) of the Financial Regulation, and complies with prohibitions on entering into operations...
What is EIC Pathfinder Open and who should apply?
EIC Pathfinder Open supports early-stage development of radical future technologies (typically TRL1–4) based on high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology research. You should apply if you have an ambitious vision for a novel technology, a plausible way to...
What is the EIC Board?
The EIC Board oversees the strategy and implementation of EIC activities and provides advice on EIC Work Programmes. It comprises 20 leading innovators and innovative researchers and a full-time President.
What is the EIC Community platform and who can access it?
The EIC Community platform is available to all EIC Awardees and Awardees of EIC Seals of Excellence, EIC Pre-Accelerator Seals of Excellence and EIC STEP Seals, and other eligible entities. It facilitates links to Business Acceleration Services and enables dis...
What is the EIC–EIT collaboration and what is the Fast Track process?
The EIC is increasing collaboration with the EIT and its KICs to strengthen the innovation ecosystem. The Fast Track process allows companies selected by EIT KICs to enter the EIC Accelerator evaluation at the second stage. EIC beneficiaries also gain access t...
What is the EIC Fund and its role?
The EIC Fund is an alternative investment fund established to invest in companies selected through EIC Accelerator calls. The European Investment Bank supports the EIC Fund as Investment Advisor.
What is the objective of the EIC Pathfinder?
The EIC Pathfinder’s objective is to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies by supporting the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep tech R&D to realise proofs of principle and foundations for future transformative tec...
What is the outlook for the EIC Work Programme in 2027?
The 2027 Work Programme will follow EIC Board advice. Main calls on Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator and STEP are expected to continue without major changes. The Advanced Innovation Challenges call will be assessed for continuation. Subject to proposed defe...
What support does a funded EIC Pathfinder Open project receive?
The call has an indicative total budget of EUR 166 million. Successful projects receive a Research and Innovation Action grant (100% funding). Proposals with up to EUR 4 million EU contribution are considered appropriate (larger amounts may be justified). Elig...
Which agency implements Horizon Europe EIC activities (except the EIC Fund)?
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) is the agency entrusted by the European Commission to implement Horizon Europe EIC activities, except for the EIC Fund.
Who are EIC Awardees?
EIC Awardees are beneficiaries identified in an EIC Grant agreement (Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator), or investees for the Accelerator (including STEP Scale Up Call), as well as winners of EIC Prizes.
How and when do you apply to EIC Pathfinder Open?
Submit a proposal via the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal by the deadline 3 May 2022 at 17:00 Brussels local time.
How are EIC Pathfinder proposals evaluated?
Proposals are first evaluated and scored remotely by EIC expert evaluators, followed by a rebuttal phase, and then by an evaluation committee that decides the final score based on remote scores, consensus discussions and rebuttal comments.
How are ties between proposals with the same final score resolved?
Priority order: higher Excellence score; higher Impact score; gender balance among work package leaders; number of SME applicants; number of Member States and Associated Countries in the consortium; other call-related factors determined by the evaluation commi...