Pathfinder Open 2025 – register your proposal and learn about the changes compared to last year
21st February 2025 at 3:44 pm
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has just published the 2025 EIC Pathfinder Open call, inviting visionary researchers and innovators to submit their proposals by 21 May 2025. With a budget of €142 million, this funding instrument aims to support early-stage development of high-risk, high-gain research projects across all scientific disciplines, fostering the next generation of technological advancements in Europe. With just three months to go and given the high competition last year with a success rate of just above 4%, the time has come to put together a strong consortium to bring forward a groundbreaking idea and write a competitive proposal. To gain insights into previously funded projects, including key trends in hot research topics and consortium composition, have a look at our recent analysis of the 2024 EIC Pathfinder Open projects.
Proposal requirements – Pathfinder-Open in a nutshell
Complexity:
Length:
Evaluation criteria:
Process:
Moderate
Max. 20 pages
– Excellence (60%) – Scientific & Technical Quality, Innovation
– Impact (20%) – Potential ‘to make a difference’, incl. economic
– Implementation (20%) – Partnership, sound planning, etc.
– Assessment by at least four EIC expert evaluators.
– EIC evaluation committee (different from expert evaluators) provides a final evaluation (five months after the deadline).
– Grant agreement completion within 8 months after the deadline.
What has changed in the template since 2023 (version 5.0)?
Looking at the new template for Part B inside the submission platform (version 6.0 from 21 January 2025), no major changes can be observed (it has to be noted that the link provided in the F&T Portal is directed towards the old version of the template). The reported (minor) changes mainly concern the addition of instructions on the use of AI for the proposal, and more detailed guidance that should help applicants.
1. Focus on AI: Guidance on the use of generative AI tools for the preparation of the proposal
When considering the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for the preparation of the proposal, the EC advocates using it with caution, and carefully. Remarkably:
- The AI-generated content should be thoroughly reviewed and validated by the applicants to ensure its appropriateness and accuracy, as well as its compliance with intellectual property regulations.
- Applicants are fully responsible for the content of the proposal (even those parts produced by the AI tool) and must be transparent in disclosing which AI tools were used and how they were utilized.
Below are a few requirements that need to be fulfilled by applicants:
(Source: EIC, template as available in the submission system on 21 Feb 2025)
Verify the accuracy, validity, and appropriateness of the content and any citations generated by the AI tool and correct any errors or inconsistencies.
Provide a list of sources used to generate content and citations, including those generated by the AI tool. Double-check citations to ensure they are accurate and properly referenced.
Be conscious of the potential for plagiarism where the AI tool may have reproduced substantial text from other sources. Check the original sources to be sure you are not plagiarizing someone else’s work.
Acknowledge the limitations of the AI tool in the proposal preparation, including the potential for bias, errors, and gaps in knowledge.
2. Changes in the different proposal Part B template sections
As mentioned above, the main changes in the new Part B version include more guidance for applicants. The table below summarises the main changes in version 6.0 in comparison with version 5.0:
Ready to embark on the Pathfinder Open journey? We certainly are!
We at accelopment have successfully supported EIC Pathfinder and FET Open projects, including four ongoing Pathfinder Open projects BoneOscopy, CORENET, PIONEAR and POLINA as well as the PEARL-DNA Pathfinder Challenge project. Our dedication to pioneering research extends back to the FET programme under Horizon 2020, where we contributed to the success of projects such as CLASSY, FRINGE and Lumiblast.
At accelopment, we provide three key services to support your EIC Pathfinder Open proposal: full proposal writing, extended reviews of new submissions, and proposal reviews for resubmissions. Our expert team provides comprehensive writing support and can help you develop a compelling proposal from scratch, assess its strengths and weaknesses before submission, or refine and strengthen a previous submission. By aligning with the EIC’s evaluation criteria, we enhance your proposal’s structure, clarity, and competitiveness. Whether you are planning a resubmission or preparing a new proposal, we ensure your innovative idea is presented convincingly. With the 2025 deadline approaching, now is the time to maximise your chances of success — get in touch to discuss how we can support you!
Andreia Cruz
Research & Innovation Project Manager, Group Lead
Jacqueline Strehler
Research & Innovation Project Manager