European Innovation Council Grants €4 Million to 43 Projects
On October 14, 2026, the European Innovation Council selected 43 innovative projects for funding under the EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 call. Each project will receive up to €4 million in grants. The selected initiatives involve 218 organizations from 30 countries and focus on diverse areas such as cancer treatment, quantum computing, and sustainable agriculture.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has made a significant commitment to advancing scientific research by selecting 43 innovative projects for funding under the EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 call. Each of these projects will receive up to €4 million in grant funding. The initiatives aim to explore groundbreaking ideas in various fields, including cancer treatments, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, and climate-resilient technologies. This funding is intended to propel scientific discovery and lay the groundwork for future innovations that can address pressing societal challenges.
This year’s Pathfinder Open call has seen a record number of proposals, marking it as one of the most competitive calls under the Horizon Europe program. The increase in proposals demonstrates the growing relevance of bottom-up funding mechanisms that allow researchers to pursue their innovative ideas. The selected projects involve a total of 218 organizations from 30 countries, including 24 EU Member States. The consortium participations include 44% from higher or secondary education establishments, 28% from research organizations, 25% from private companies, and 3% from other organizations and public bodies.
Notably, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are involved in 34 of the selected projects, highlighting the diversity of contributors to these initiatives. Among the notable projects selected is LUNGBOT, which aims to revolutionize lung cancer treatment by developing inhalable, engineered bacteria that can produce therapeutic molecules directly at tumor sites. This innovative method seeks to improve the precision of cancer treatment by targeting tumors more effectively than traditional therapies.
Another project, NoBIQu, focuses on enhancing the reliability and accessibility of quantum computing by addressing error correction in calculations. This initiative aims to create a new architecture that combines superconducting quantum bits with efficient error-correction methods, potentially leading to the development of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers. DyHoLIT is another exciting project exploring advanced holographic lithography for precision manufacturing. This project aims to create extremely small and complex structures with high precision, which could have applications in next-generation semiconductor technologies and biomedical research.
Additionally, the DEW2ROOT project is working on a sustainable, wood-based technology that captures moisture from the air to help plants survive drought conditions. This innovation could support climate-resilient agriculture by providing essential moisture directly to plant roots without conventional irrigation. All selected projects have been notified of the funding results and are now in the process of preparing their grant agreements. The disbursement of funds will depend on the successful signing of these agreements.
The EIC Pathfinder programme not only provides grants but also facilitates direct engagement with EIC Programme Managers, offering additional support and funding opportunities to help researchers advance their innovative ideas toward market-ready solutions. Looking ahead, the EIC plans to open its 2027 funding opportunities in November, providing further support for researchers and innovators to continue pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.
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