Can I apply to EIC Pathfinder?

By country

• Can a company from an EU country apply?Yes
• Can a company from Poland (a Widening country) apply?Yes
• Can a company from the UK apply?Yes
• Can a company from Switzerland apply?Yes
• Can a company from Norway apply?Yes
• Can a company from Israel apply?Yes
• Can a company from Ukraine apply?Yes
• Can a company from Türkiye apply?Yes
• Can a company from Canada apply?NoOrganisations in Canada can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from Japan apply?NoOrganisations in Japan can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from South Korea apply?NoOrganisations in South Korea can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from the United States apply?NoOrganisations in the United States can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from India apply?NoOrganisations in India can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.

By organisation

• Can a founder without a company yet apply?Yes, ifRegister a company first: the applicant must be an incorporated SME.
• Can a startup apply?Yes
• Can an established SME apply?Yes
• Can a mid-cap company apply?Yes
• Can a large company apply?Yes
• Can a university apply?Yes
• Can a research organisation apply?Yes
• Can a company apply on its own, without partners?NoYou need a consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 different countries.

By stage

• Can I apply with an idea or early research?Yes
• Can I apply with a proof of concept?Yes
• Can I apply with a prototype?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 4.
• Can I apply with a pilot with real users?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 4.
• Can I apply with a product on the market?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 4.

The rules in full

Where you must be based

the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe

Coordinator in an EU Member State or associated country. The consortium needs at least one partner in an EU Member State. UK and Switzerland count as associated countries. Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan are associated to Horizon Europe Pillar II only, so they do not count for this programme.

Who can apply

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body, a non-profit or an individual researcher

Any legal entity: universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, industry, even natural persons.

Who can join as a partner

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body, a non-profit or an individual researcher

Partners from other countries may join under the standard Horizon Europe rules, usually without EU funding, and do not count toward the minimum.

Alone or with partners

Consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 countries

At least three independent legal entities, each in a different country: one in an EU Member State and two more in different EU or associated countries. Affiliated companies (parent, subsidiary, sister) count as one.

Stage

TRL 1 to 4

Early-stage science. The project aims to prove the principle and reach TRL 3 or 4.

What you get

grants, up to €4M

Up to 4 million euros per project (for the whole consortium); more if duly justified.

Funding rate

100% of eligible costs, paid as a lump sum