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Strategic Analysis
This EIC Pathfinder Challenge funds high-risk, high-gain research on a new generation of advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesting, integrated into energetically autonomous devices and systems such as wireless sensors. Every proposal must address all four specific objectives: advanced materials harnessing new physical or chemical phenomena while reducing the reliance on Critical Raw Materials, their implementation in a miniaturised harvesting module, the integration of the modules in an energetically autonomous system, and a benchmark in a representative use case in a laboratory environment (TRL 4) against the state of the art. Proposals are scored on Excellence (threshold 4, weight 50%), Impact (3.5, 30%) and Implementation (3, 20%), then selected as a portfolio according to the phenomenon exploited, the composition of the materials and the field of application. Single applicants and consortia are eligible, with an EU contribution of up to EUR 4 million considered appropriate, funded at 100% as a lump sum.
TRL 2 → 4
The identification and development of innovative advanced materials for energy harvesting, harnessing new physical/ chemical phenomena, leading to a radical shift in application range and performance while reducing the reliance on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs)
The implementation of the advanced materials in a miniaturised energy harvesting module, such as, but not limited to, miniaturised solar cells, thermoelectric generators (e.g. TEG), nanotribological/ piezoelectric devices, electromagnetic wave harvesting devices
Integration of the miniaturised energy harvesting modules in energetically autonomous systems (e.g. wireless integrated sensors)
Benchmarking the harvesting modules in a representative use case in a laboratory environment (TRL 4) with a view to demonstrating significant efficiency improvements, in terms of energy harvested, compared to the state of the art
Identify a new generation of advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesting modules
Achieve TRL 4 for the resulting energetically autonomous systems
A new generation of energetically autonomous systems enabling new services that will improve the life of European citizens through applications in areas such as point of care diagnostics, smart sustainable cities etc.
Supporting sustainability in energy consumption and production in keeping with the ambitions of RePowerEU and the Green Deal
Enhancement of the sustainability of IoTs and energetically autonomous systems in general
European Commission Communication “Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership”
highThe Communication "Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership" identified an urgent need to boost the development of advanced materials to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy in strategic fields while addressing sustainability, circularity and safety issues.
The Challenge is framed as supporting this Communication. Evaluators will read the proposed materials against its aims: strategic autonomy in strategic fields, together with sustainability, circularity and safety.
RePowerEU
mediumREPowerEU is the European Commission's strategic plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast-forward the clean energy transition. It focuses on energy conservation, diversification of energy supplies, and accelerated roll-out of renewable and energy-efficient technologies across EU industries and infrastructure.
REPowerEU is named in the second expected impact of the Challenge. Evaluators will look for a credible link between the project's energy harvesting results and sustainability in energy consumption and production.
European Green Deal
mediumThe European Green Deal is the EU's overarching growth strategy to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It aims to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy, ensuring no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and decoupling economic growth from resource use. It encompasses various policy areas, including climate, energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and biodiversity.
The Green Deal is named in the second expected impact, next to REPowerEU. Evaluators will look for the contribution of energetically autonomous systems to sustainability in energy consumption and production, and to the sustainability of IoT systems.
Specific requirements
Single applicant
A single legal entity may apply if it is established in a Member State or an Associated Country, unless the Challenge states otherwise. In single beneficiary projects, mid-caps and larger companies are not permitted.
Consortium of two entities
Two independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries.
Consortium of three or more entities
At least three independent legal entities, each established in a different country: at least one in a Member State, and at least two others each in different Member States or Associated Countries.
Entities eligible for funding
Entities established in a Member State (including outermost regions and linked Overseas Countries and Territories), in a country associated to Horizon Europe Pillar III, or in one of the low- and middle-income countries listed in Annex 2, section B.2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. Other entities may participate without funding, unless their participation is considered essential.
Exclusive focus on civil applications
Projects must focus exclusively on civil applications, and must not aim at human cloning for reproductive purposes, heritable modification of the genetic heritage of human beings, or the creation of human embryos solely for research or stem cell procurement (Annex 2, B.4).
Gender equality plan
Public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments from Member States and Associated Countries must have a gender equality plan; a self-declaration is requested at proposal stage. This does not apply to private for-profit organisations, including SMEs (Annex 2, B.8).
Protection of European communication networks
Applications with elements that concern the evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G and related technologies) are subject to restrictions: entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment are not eligible (Annex 2, B.1).
EU contribution
An EU contribution of up to EUR 4 million is considered appropriate; larger amounts may be requested if duly justified. Funding rate 100%, as a lump sum.
In order to apply, your proposal must meet the general eligibility requirements (see Annex 2 of EIC Work Programme 2026) as well as specific eligibility requirements for the Challenge (please see the Topic description above).
Please check for particular elements (e.g., specific application focus or technology) in the respective Challenge chapter.
The EIC Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative or individual research and innovation from consortia or from single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country (unless stated otherwise in the specific Challenge chapter). In case of a consortium your proposal must be submitted by the coordinator on behalf of the consortium. Consortia of two entities must be comprised of independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Consortia of three or more entities must include as beneficiaries at least three legal entities, independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
The legal entities may for example be universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, natural persons. In the case of single beneficiary projects, mid-caps and larger companies will not be permitted.
Applications with elements that concern the evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G and other technologies linked to the evolution of European communication networks) will be subject to restriction for the protection of European communication networks (see Annex II – Section B1).
The standard admissibility and eligibility conditions and the eligibility of applicants from third countries are detailed in Annex 2.
Proposal page limit and layout:
Described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Sections 1 to 3 of the part B of your proposal, corresponding respectively to the evaluation criteria Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, must consist of a maximum of 30 format A4 pages. Excess pages will be automatically made invisible, and will not be taken into consideration by the evaluators. Please also consult Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the Online Manual.
Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Please refer to the Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (Lump Sum MGA) used for Lump Sum EIC actions under Horizon Europe.
Described in the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Standard application form (HE EIC Pathfinder Challenges)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Pathfinder Challenges)
Challenge Guide: Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems
Call-specific instructions
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
An info session on this Challenge was held in March 2026; its recording is available on the EIC webcast site: EIC Pathfinder info day, Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 34-38; Challenge Guide, section 3.
Each criterion is scored from 0 to 5. The Work Programme sets a threshold per criterion and no overall threshold; the weights serve the ranking.
| Criterion | Threshold | Weight | Aspects assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | 4/5 | 50% | Objectives and relevance to the Challenge: How clear are the project's objectives? How relevant are they in contributing to the overall goal and the specific objectives of the Challenge? Novelty: To what extent is the proposed work ambitious and goes beyond the state-of-the-art? Plausibility of the methodology: How sound is the proposed methodology, including the underlying concepts, models, assumptions, appropriate consideration of the gender dimension in research content, and the quality of open science practices? |
| Impact | 3.5/5 | 30% | Potential Impact: How credible are the pathways to achieve the expected outcomes and impacts of the Challenge? To what extent would the successful completion of the project contribute to this? Innovation potential: How realistic is the proof of principle for demonstrating the potential impact of the technology for the challenge? How adequate are the proposed measures for protection of results and any other exploitation measures to facilitate future translation of research results into innovations with positive societal, economic or environmental impact? How suitable are the proposed measures for involving and empowering key actors that have the potential to take the lead in translating research into innovations in the future? Communication and Dissemination: How suitable are the proposed measures, including communication activities, to maximise expected outcomes and impacts for raising awareness about the project results' potential to establish new markets and/or address global challenges? |
| Quality and efficiency of the implementation | 3/5 | 20% | Work plan: How coherent and effective are the work plan (work packages, tasks, deliverables, milestones, timeline, etc.) and risk mitigation measures in order to achieve the project objectives? Allocation of resources: How appropriate and effective is the allocation of resources (comprising person-months and other cost items) to work packages and consortium members? Quality of the applicant/consortium (depends if mono or multi-beneficiaries): To what extent does the applicant / do all consortium members have the necessary capacity and high quality expertise for performing the project tasks? |
All proposals that meet the thresholds are considered together. The evaluation committee maps them on the categories of the Challenge Guide and selects a portfolio that achieves the expected outcomes and impacts of the Challenge. A proposal with a higher score may not be retained, and the committee may propose minor adjustments for the consistency of the portfolio. The portfolio paragraph of section 1.1 and the self-assessment table feed this step.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 35-37 and Annex 2 (A.2, F.1); Part B form v4.3; Evaluation form for EIC Pathfinder Challenges.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 33-34 and Annex 2 (E.1); Part B form v4.3, tables for section 3.1; Challenge Guide, section 5.
The selected projects will be assigned to lead and/or engage in portfolio activities centred on the following priorities:
A steering committee steered by the Programme Manager and four working groups, each project nominating a representative per group: WG1 Technology/Science (benchmarking, sharing results, integration, integrated approaches, life cycle analysis of the technological options, access to Open Innovation Test Beds and research infrastructure); WG2 Regulatory issues; WG3 Transition of technology to innovation (techno-economic views, market analysis, IP and business models, investors, webinars for young researchers); WG4 Communication, dissemination and outreach (joint communication, conferences, workshops, summer schools, a common white paper). Online meetings about every three months and one annual meeting in person.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 40; Challenge Guide, section 4.3.
The Work Programme advises a work package dedicated to portfolio activities with at least 10 person-months. The Challenge Guide provides a template (Annex 1): WPX Portfolio management, from month 1 to the end of the project, with a task on portfolio governance and working groups, a task on the portfolio strategic plan and common documents, and one deliverable per reporting period, Deliverable X.2.i: Report on portfolio activities (type R, dissemination level SEN). You may describe concrete activities or remain generic. Without this work package the proposal is not scored lower, but it will be requested at grant preparation, within the same maximum grant.
| Project duration (months) | Number of periods | Period durations (months) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 | 12 |
| 18 | 1 | 18 |
| 24 | 2 | 12, 12 |
| 30 | 2 | 12, 18 |
| 36 | 2 | 12, 24 |
| 42 | 3 | 12, 12, 18 |
| 48 | 3 | 12, 18, 18 |
| 60 | 4 | 12, 16, 16, 16 |
Each work package should be a substantial part of the work plan; payments follow the work packages completed within each reporting period.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 34; Challenge Guide, section 4.1 and Annex 1; Part B form v4.3, section 3.1.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, Annex 6, section 2.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific objectives | |||
| SC1The identification and development of innovative advanced materials for energy harvesting, harnessing new physical/ chemical phenomena, leading to a radical shift in application range and performance while reducing the reliance on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2The implementation of the advanced materials in a miniaturised energy harvesting module, such as, but not limited to, miniaturised solar cells, thermoelectric generators (e.g. TEG), nanotribological/ piezoelectric devices, electromagnetic wave harvesting devices | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Integration of the miniaturised energy harvesting modules in energetically autonomous systems (e.g. wireless integrated sensors) | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Benchmarking the harvesting modules in a representative use case in a laboratory environment (TRL 4) with a view to demonstrating significant efficiency improvements, in terms of energy harvested, compared to the state of the art | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Identify a new generation of advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesting modules | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Achieve TRL 4 for the resulting energetically autonomous systems | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Work package dedicated to portfolio activities (at least 10 person-months advised)The Work Programme advises a work package dedicated to portfolio activities with at least 10 person-months, and the Challenge Guide provides a template for it. Without it the proposal is not scored lower, but the work package is requested at grant preparation within the same maximum grant. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Identification of potential markets and associated impactsAll proposals should also identify potential markets and the associated impacts of their innovations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1A new generation of energetically autonomous systems enabling new services that will improve the life of European citizens through applications in areas such as point of care diagnostics, smart sustainable cities etc. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Supporting sustainability in energy consumption and production in keeping with the ambitions of RePowerEU and the Green Deal | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Enhancement of the sustainability of IoTs and energetically autonomous systems in general | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1communication advanced materials for industrial leadershipThe Communication "Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership" identified an urgent need to boost the development of advanced materials to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy in strategic fields while addressing sustainability, circularity and safety issues. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
Single applicant
A single legal entity may apply if it is established in a Member State or an Associated Country, unless the Challenge states otherwise. In single beneficiary projects, mid-caps and larger companies are not permitted.
Consortium of two entities
Two independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries.
Consortium of three or more entities
At least three independent legal entities, each established in a different country: at least one in a Member State, and at least two others each in different Member States or Associated Countries.
Entities eligible for funding
Entities established in a Member State (including outermost regions and linked Overseas Countries and Territories), in a country associated to Horizon Europe Pillar III, or in one of the low- and middle-income countries listed in Annex 2, section B.2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. Other entities may participate without funding, unless their participation is considered essential.
Exclusive focus on civil applications
Projects must focus exclusively on civil applications, and must not aim at human cloning for reproductive purposes, heritable modification of the genetic heritage of human beings, or the creation of human embryos solely for research or stem cell procurement (Annex 2, B.4).
Gender equality plan
Public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments from Member States and Associated Countries must have a gender equality plan; a self-declaration is requested at proposal stage. This does not apply to private for-profit organisations, including SMEs (Annex 2, B.8).
Protection of European communication networks
Applications with elements that concern the evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G and related technologies) are subject to restrictions: entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment are not eligible (Annex 2, B.1).
EU contribution
An EU contribution of up to EUR 4 million is considered appropriate; larger amounts may be requested if duly justified. Funding rate 100%, as a lump sum.
The call requires you to pick or distribute several structuring elements before submission. These are locked at proposal creation time and drive the project backbone. Read-only here.
portfolio-phenomenon
The evaluation committee characterises each project by one sub-category in each of the three categories of the Challenge Guide. No more than two projects are retained per sub-category, and only if they differ in the other categories. Declare your positioning in the self-assessment table of section 1.1.
Thermoelectricity
Solar (PV)
Piezoelectric
Nanotribological
Electromagnetic wave harvesting
Other
portfolio-material
The evaluation committee characterises each project by one sub-category in each of the three categories of the Challenge Guide. No more than two projects are retained per sub-category, and only if they differ in the other categories. Declare your positioning in the self-assessment table of section 1.1.
Topological materials
New generation of perovskites
Nanostructured materials
Polymers, polymer nanocomposites
Low dimensional materials (2D and 1D)
Other
portfolio-application
The evaluation committee characterises each project by one sub-category in each of the three categories of the Challenge Guide. No more than two projects are retained per sub-category, and only if they differ in the other categories. Declare your positioning in the self-assessment table of section 1.1.
Automotive (e.g. for autonomous driving)
Industrial monitoring (e.g. autonomous sensors for gas leakages)
Health monitoring (e.g. Point of care diagnostics)
Wearables sensors/devices
Smart city management sensors (e.g. traffic management)
Energy management (e.g. energy consumption reduction)
Agrifood, agriculture industry
Drones (e.g. miniaturized drone for surveillance)
Sensors for security (e.g. sensors for harmful gases)
Other
5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
Applicants must address all four specific objectives: new advanced materials harnessing new physical or chemical phenomena, a miniaturised harvesting module, integration in an energetically autonomous system, and a benchmark in a representative use case in a laboratory environment (TRL 4) showing significant gains in energy harvested over the state of the art. Section 1.1 must state explicitly which objectives, or aspects of objectives, the project addresses.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 39; Part B form v4.3, section 1.1
Reducing the reliance on Critical Raw Materials is written into the first specific objective, together with a radical shift in application range and performance. It is read with the relevance to the Challenge objectives under Excellence; neither the eligibility conditions nor the award criteria set it as a separate elimination criterion.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 33, 35-36 and 39
Proposals above all three thresholds (Excellence 4, Impact 3.5, Implementation 3) enter a second step where the evaluation committee classifies each one by phenomenon exploited, composition of the materials and field of application (one sub-category each, at most two projects per sub-category) and selects a coherent portfolio. A highly ranked proposal that has no synergy or commonality with the others may not be selected, and a proposal very similar to one already retained is set aside. Fill in the self-assessment table of the Challenge Guide in section 1.1.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 35-37; Challenge Guide, sections 3 and 4.1
A work package dedicated to portfolio activities with at least 10 person-months is advised, and the Challenge Guide gives a template for it (Annex 1). Leaving it out does not lower the score, but it will be requested at grant preparation and financed from the same maximum grant: planning it now avoids cutting other work later.
Source: EIC Work Programme 2026, p. 34; Challenge Guide, section 4.1
At the end of each reporting period, payments are made only for the work packages completed within that period. Align work package end dates with the reporting periods of the form (for example 12 and 24 months for a 36-month project, or four periods of 12, 16, 16 and 16 months for 60 months).
Source: Part B form v4.3, tables for section 3.1
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
The branch you're building for — it shapes what the call expects of you, and what your coverage is measured against.
The call requires you to pick or distribute several structuring elements before submission. These are locked at proposal creation time and drive the project backbone. Read-only here.
portfolio-phenomenon
The evaluation committee characterises each project by one sub-category in each of the three categories of the Challenge Guide. No more than two projects are retained per sub-category, and only if they differ in the other categories. Declare your positioning in the self-assessment table of section 1.1.
Thermoelectricity
Solar (PV)
Piezoelectric
Nanotribological
Electromagnetic wave harvesting
Other
portfolio-material
The evaluation committee characterises each project by one sub-category in each of the three categories of the Challenge Guide. No more than two projects are retained per sub-category, and only if they differ in the other categories. Declare your positioning in the self-assessment table of section 1.1.
Topological materials
New generation of perovskites
Nanostructured materials
Polymers, polymer nanocomposites
Low dimensional materials (2D and 1D)
Other
portfolio-application
The evaluation committee characterises each project by one sub-category in each of the three categories of the Challenge Guide. No more than two projects are retained per sub-category, and only if they differ in the other categories. Declare your positioning in the self-assessment table of section 1.1.
Automotive (e.g. for autonomous driving)
Industrial monitoring (e.g. autonomous sensors for gas leakages)
Health monitoring (e.g. Point of care diagnostics)
Wearables sensors/devices
Smart city management sensors (e.g. traffic management)
Energy management (e.g. energy consumption reduction)
Agrifood, agriculture industry
Drones (e.g. miniaturized drone for surveillance)
Sensors for security (e.g. sensors for harmful gases)
Other