Access up to €4 million in EU funding to develop radical, early-stage ideas through the Pathfinder programme with expert support from FI Group UK.
The Horizon Europe Pathfinder Grant supports visionary research and early-stage technology development, funding high-risk, high-gain projects with transformative potential. It is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) and focuses on breakthrough scientific ideas that could create new markets or industries in the future.
Grants are available under two streams:
Pathfinder Open: For any field of science or technology
Pathfinder Challenges: For specific strategic goals set by the EU
UK organisations are fully eligible to apply as of 2024.
Yes. Following the UK’s re-association to Horizon Europe, UK-based universities, research institutes, and innovative SMEs are fully eligible to:
Coordinate or join transnational consortia
Access both Pathfinder Open and Challenge calls
Receive direct EU funding (100% of costs covered)
UK-led proposals are competitive when supported by strong partners, a convincing scientific vision, and well-articulated societal impact.
| TRL | Stage | Pathfinder Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Basic research, concept explored | Ideal for blue-sky research |
| 3–4 | Experimental proof of concept | Lab validation, interdisciplinary tech |
Unlike EIC Accelerator or Transition, Pathfinder funds radical exploration, not incremental progress.
Winning proposals typically include:
A radically new idea rooted in cutting-edge science
Strong interdisciplinary collaboration
A clear, though speculative, innovation vision
A well-structured scientific methodology
A plan to demonstrate proof of principle
FI Group helps translate scientific ambition into fundable proposals, aligning with what EU evaluators want to see.
Application Process
FI Group’s Pathfinder team includes PhD-qualified consultants and industry specialists across physics, biomedical engineering, quantum technology, and other deep-tech disciplines. Many have successfully authored winning EU proposals and even served as evaluators themselves, providing clients with the strategic insights essential for success.
Our advantage extends beyond expert proposal writing. With a network of over 1,400 consultants in 13 European countries, FI Group offers exceptional access to consortium partners from leading research institutes, universities, and industry pioneers across Europe. This network allows us to rapidly assemble robust and strategically aligned consortia, significantly boosting your project’s competitiveness and credibility.
“Pathfinder is not about incremental steps. It is about rewriting what is possible. Our European network allows us to rapidly match UK innovators with outstanding international partners, forming highly competitive consortia. We help scientists articulate the ‘why now’ and ‘so what’ in a way that resonates clearly with evaluators” – Dr. Fawzi Abou-Chahine, Funding Director
FI Group’s Pathfinder team includes PhD-qualified consultants and industry specialists across physics, biomedical engineering, quantum technology, and other deep-tech disciplines. Many have successfully authored winning EU proposals and even served as evaluators themselves, providing clients with the strategic insights essential for success.
Our advantage extends beyond expert proposal writing. With a network of over 1,400 consultants in 13 European countries, FI Group offers exceptional access to consortium partners from leading research institutes, universities, and industry pioneers across Europe. This network allows us to rapidly assemble robust and strategically aligned consortia, significantly boosting your project’s competitiveness and credibility.
“Pathfinder is not about incremental steps. It is about rewriting what is possible. Our European network allows us to rapidly match UK innovators with outstanding international partners, forming highly competitive consortia. We help scientists articulate the ‘why now’ and ‘so what’ in a way that resonates clearly with evaluators” – Dr. Fawzi Abou-Chahine, Funding Director
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In early 2025, Stablepharma Ltd was awarded €2.5 million in grant funding through the EIC Accelerator to advance its StablevaX™ technology, an innovation set to transform vaccine distribution by removing the need for cold‑chain logistics.
FI Group UK played a pivotal role in reviewing and strengthening the company’s final submission. Working closely with Stablepharma’s executive team, FI Group helped refine the technical narrative, align financials with key clinical milestones, and enhance the overall credibility and clarity of the application. The award made Stablepharma one of just five UK companies selected in a highly competitive round of over 1,200 applicants.
This success highlights how expert grant consultancy can significantly improve outcomes for high-potential applicants seeking funding under Horizon Europe’s most competitive instruments.
In early 2025, Stablepharma Ltd was awarded €2.5 million in grant funding through the EIC Accelerator to advance its StablevaX™ technology, an innovation set to transform vaccine distribution by removing the need for cold‑chain logistics.
FI Group UK played a pivotal role in reviewing and strengthening the company’s final submission. Working closely with Stablepharma’s executive team, FI Group helped refine the technical narrative, align financials with key clinical milestones, and enhance the overall credibility and clarity of the application. The award made Stablepharma one of just five UK companies selected in a highly competitive round of over 1,200 applicants.
This success highlights how expert grant consultancy can significantly improve outcomes for high-potential applicants seeking funding under Horizon Europe’s most competitive instruments.
We've had an excellent experience collaborating with FI Group. Their team of consultants demonstrated proficiency in evaluating and comprehending our innovative wave energy technology, leading to a comprehensive technical report that played a significant role in securing our R&D tax credit repayment.
The smoothest way to work on R&D Tax Credit – not only are they experts of the subject but also sectors specialists; FI Group could get all the technical elements of our business by themselves leading to a successful and remarkable result.
Giuseppe Amoroso from FI group did our R&D tax claim and successfully submitted on our behalf of OxDevice. Excellent team work in Submitting the claim.