- Reference
HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDEROPEN- Implementing authority
- European Innovation Council / EISMEA
- Programme
- Horizon Europe - European Innovation Council
- Deadline
- Closed
- Days left
- Closed
- Total programme budget
- €262,000,000 source2026: about €166m for Pathfinder Open and €96m for Pathfinder Challenges.
- Per beneficiary
- up to €4,000,000 sourceUp to €4m per project, more if properly justified; lump sum at 100% of eligible costs.
- Max. funding intensity
- 100% source
- Own contribution
- Not verified
- Funding type
- Grant
Total budget is not the amount one applicant can receive.
Overview
Grants of up to €4m at 100% funding for high-risk research that lays the scientific basis for radically new technologies. Open topic once a year, plus thematic Challenges.
Summary written by YARD Law (AI-assisted) from the official sources. Not an official text.
Status: Closed. Pathfinder Open 2026 closed on 12 May 2026 and Pathfinder Challenges on 28 October 2026. The 2027 dates depend on the next EIC work programme. source
Who can apply?
1 of 11 conditions confirmed
Research teams, universities and science-based start-ups and SMEs working on visionary, high-risk research for radically new technologies.
| Requirement | Our record | source |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian or EU legal entity | Not verified | |
| SME, micro or large-enterprise eligibility | Not verified | |
| Startup or established business | Not verified | |
| Minimum operating history | Not verified | |
| Minimum turnover | Not verified | |
| Eligible sectors and NACE codes | Not verified | |
| Geographic eligibility | Not verified | |
| Linked and partner enterprise rules | Not verified | |
| Financial standing and outstanding public debts | Not verified | |
| Consortium or partnership requirements | Pathfinder Open: a consortium of at least three independent entities from three different EU or Associated Countries. Challenges may allow single applicants; check the topic. | source |
| Other programme-specific restrictions | Not verified |
Eligible investments
1 eligible · 0 conditional · 10 not verified
| Investment | Status | Our record |
|---|---|---|
| AI software development | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| AI integration and automation | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Commercial software and licences | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| GPU servers, computing equipment and storage | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Data-centre infrastructure | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Cloud subscriptions and computing services | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Staff and R&D expenditure | Eligible | Research costs, funded as a lump sum at 100%. source |
| Machinery and industrial equipment | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Energy-efficiency systems | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Consulting and other professional services | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
| Construction or renovation | Not verified | Not yet verified from the call documents. |
Financial requirements
1 of 7 confirmed
| Minimum and maximum project value | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Grant percentage | 100% of eligible costs, as a lump sum. source |
| Required own contribution | Not verified |
| Advance payments | Not verified |
| Payment and reimbursement rules | Not verified |
| State-aid limitations | Not verified |
| Eligible and ineligible costs | Not verified |
Application process
10 steps
A practical outline. The call documents prevail wherever they differ.
Check eligibility
Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: eligible countries, type of action, consortium rules and any topic-specific conditions.
Gather supporting documents
Register your organisation in the Participant Register to get a PIC. Prepare the annexes the topic requires.
Prepare the proposal
Fill in the administrative forms (Part A) online and the technical description (Part B) on the official template.
Prepare the budget
Enter the budget in Part A. Many calls now use lump sums, so check the topic's funding model.
Use the official portal
Submit through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, signed in with EU Login. HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDEROPEN - Funding & Tenders Portal
Sign electronically
The coordinator submits online. Grant agreements are later signed electronically in the portal by the organisation's authorised signatory (LEAR / LSIGN).
Meet the deadline
Deadlines are 17:00 Brussels time unless the call says otherwise. The portal does not accept late submissions.
Evaluation and approval
Independent experts evaluate the proposal against the award criteria and the Commission or agency informs applicants of the outcome.
Sign the contract
Successful applicants go through grant preparation and sign the grant agreement in the portal.
Implement, report, get paid
Pre-financing follows signature, then periodic technical and financial reports through the portal trigger the further payments.
Required documents
list not extracted yet
No document list recorded yet.
Documents are in each year's call on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Official sources
4 official links
- Official programme announcement
- EIC Pathfinder - European Innovation Council
- Application portal
- HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDEROPEN - Funding & Tenders Portal
- Guidelines for applicants
- EIC Work Programme 2026 (PDF)
- Application templates
- Not linked yet
- Eligible-cost rules
- Not linked yet
- Official clarifications and amendments
- Not linked yet
- Managing authority contact
- Not linked yet
- Official news release
- EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 call continues to attract strong interest (20 May 2026)
Managing authority contact: EIC / EISMEA. eic.ec.europa.eu
Questions and answers
4 questions
- Can a Bulgarian company apply for EIC Pathfinder?
- Yes, EIC Pathfinder is open to applicants from Bulgaria. Eligible applicants: Research teams, universities and science-based start-ups and SMEs working on visionary, high-risk research for radically new technologies. EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
- What is the deadline for EIC Pathfinder?
- EIC Pathfinder is closed; the last deadline was 28 Oct 2026. Watch for the next round. Checked on 4 Nov 2026.
- How much funding can one company get from EIC Pathfinder?
- One company can receive up to €4,000,000 from EIC Pathfinder, covering up to 100% of eligible costs. The total budget of €262m is the whole programme envelope, not the amount one company can get.
- How do I apply for EIC Pathfinder?
- Applications are submitted online through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, using an EU Login and the organisation's PIC. Official announcement: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-pathfinder_en
Summary written by YARD Law (AI-assisted) from the official sources. Not an official text.
Record history
Research draft · Last checked: 4 Nov 2026 · Automated check · 4 Nov 2026 · source unchanged
No changes recorded since this record was created.
Bulgaria Funding Intelligence is an information service of YARD Law Co. It is not legal advice and not an official source. YARD Law does not administer public funds and has no official affiliation with any funding authority.