EIC Pathfinder under Horizon Europe supports early-stage, high-risk and high-gain research aiming at radically new technologies with the potential to deliver breakthrough and disruptive innovations. The programme funds ambitious interdisciplinary projects that explore radically new technologies and transformative ideas, often at low technology readiness levels. EIC Pathfinder is aimed at research teams seeking to build the scientific foundations for future deep-tech innovations.

EIC Pathfinder is implemented through two types of instruments:

EIC Pathfinder Open

Pathfinder Open supports bottom‑up early‑stage research in any scientific or technological field, focusing on visionary ideas and radically new concepts.
Expected TRL: typically TRL 1–4.
Funding rate for AAU: 100% of eligible direct costs.
Overhead (indirect costs): +25% of eligible direct costs.

EIC Pathfinder Challenges

Pathfinder Challenges fund research projects addressing predefined strategic and technological challenges identified by the European Commission, often linked to EU long‑term policy objectives.
Expected TRL: typically TRL 1–4.
Funding rate for AAU: 100% of eligible direct costs.
Overhead: +25% of eligible direct costs.

More information on the call website.

To ensure high quality support throughout the proposal process, we strongly encourage potential coordinators to contact your local funding advisor as early as possible. Your local funding advisor (your first point of contact) will facilitate the contact with Fundraising and Project Management. Early engagement allows us to provide the full range of support services and to plan the process effectively.

Internal support deadlines for identifying potential coordinator candidates who would like support from Fundraising & Project Management are as follows:

• 1 March for applications with deadlines in Quarter 3 (Jul–Sep) or Quarter 4 (Oct–Dec) of the same year.
• 1 October for applications with deadlines in Quarter 1 (Jan–Mar) or Quarter 2 (Apr–Jun) of the following year. 

See more on our support & deadlines overview or on Plandisc

Applications that do not meet these internal support deadlines cannot be guaranteed support from Fundraising & Project Management.

AAU Seed Money can be used to support the preparation of an application, including activities such as proposal writing, meetings with potential consortium partners, and involvement of an external consultant.

AAU Seed Money is available both at faculty level and through AAU’s missions. For details on available funding amounts, application deadlines, and specific faculty requirements, please contact your local funding advisor.

An EIC Pathfinder coordinator typically:

• Is an internationally recognised researcher with strong scientific excellence; Is most often a Professor or Associate Professor, reflecting scientific independence and leadership.
• Demonstrates visionary thinking and the ability to pursue high‑risk, high‑gain research.
• Develops research that goes well beyond the current state of the art, often at low TRLs.
• Has experience leading ambitious and interdisciplinary research teams.
• Is open to radically new ideas, technologies, and unconventional approaches.
• Engages with the long‑term innovation and impact potential of the research (commercial experience is not required).
• Acts as the scientific driver of the project, setting direction and ambition rather than focusing primarily on administrative tasks.

No regular information meetings are scheduled at AAU. Instead, events are announced on an ongoing basis on our event page. 

The European Commission frequently organises relevant events for Horizon Europe applicants, including info days.

There are no courses available at the moment.

Meetings

• Get Started meeting

This meeting establishes a mutual agreement on support, expectations, and the involvement of both Fu ndraising & Project Management and the local funding support team at department level. The applicant receives guidance on the application process. If relevant, a short introduction to Horizon Europe can also be included.

• 360 degree meeting

In this meeting, the applicant presents the project idea followed by an open, constructive discussion of the project concept, consortium, value creation, and implementation strategy.  The meeting helps identify potential gaps, strengthen the project narrative and assess whether the chosen funding instrument is the right fit. 

The focus is on early strategic reflection - not to conduct a formal review.  

Tools

Fundraising & Project Management offers preparation of a timeline to ensure a smooth application process. Tools for the EIC Pathfinder are available in the Funding Toolbox, including e.g.; 

• Annotated template for Part B. 
• Gantt charts to support planning and implementation design. 

Set-up of communication Platform 

Fundraising & Project Management facilitates the setup of a dedicated Microsoft Teams collaboration space for the consortium. This includes creating both internal AAU channels and external partner channels, ensuring a secure and well‑structured platform for communication, document sharing, and coordination throughout the application process

Assistance with Part A in the Funding & Tenders Portal 

Fundraising & Project Management provides support with gathering and entering all required Part A information in the Funding & Tenders Portal. This includes: 

• Collecting PIC (Participant Identification Code) numbers and all mandatory Part A data from each consortium partner. 
• Entering and structuring budget information in the Part A administrative forms. 
• Assistance with general administrative inputs, such as declarations and other compulsory fields. 

This service helps ensure that all administrative elements in Part A are complete, accurate, and compliant while reducing the administrative burden on the researcher.

Review of application 

Fundraising & Project Management offers one structured proposal feedback during the application process. The feedback includes:

• An in‑depth review of the application, providing concrete suggestions for changes, additions, clarifications, or strategic considerations.
• Feedback aimed at strengthening coherence, alignment with call expectations, clarity of narrative, and overall competitiveness.

The review supports the applicant in refining the proposal and ensuring a high‑quality final submission.

Submission

Fundraising & Project Management offers administrative support related to the submission process in the Funding & Tenders Portal. This includes assistance with understanding and resolving submission‑related questions, as well as hands‑on support during the final submission steps to ensure that the proposal is correctly completed and submitted on time.

Budget

The budget is managed at the department level, with Fundraising & Project Management providing guidance, recommendations, and alignment support as needed. For further information, please contact your local funding advisor.

The application support process is evaluated twice a year by means of an online survey to coordinators.

Fundraising & Project Management can assist from the evaluation result through to the project’s completion. Fundraising & Project Management offers support with Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP) and administrative project management.

To see what instruments our project managers offer support for, please refer to our support & deadlines excel-sheet.