EIC - European Innovation Council

The 2026 Challenges Call includes three cutting-edge thematic strands that seek to push the frontiers of science and enable transformative technology development: 

• II.2.1 Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems — This topic invites proposals to develop novel materials and device architectures that can efficiently scavenge ambient energy at microscale. The ambition is to enable self-powered miniaturised systems (e.g. IoT devices, sensors, wearable electronics) through breakthroughs in material properties, integration strategies, and energy conversion techniques. 

• II.2.2 Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing — This theme focuses on leveraging biotechnology, bioengineering and life-science innovations to promote longer, healthier lifespans. It aims to address biological aging processes, preventative diagnostics, regenerative therapies, and interventions that maintain functional resilience over time. 

• II.2.3 DeepRAP: Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards Trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems — Under this call, the goal is to advance the methodological foundations of AI by combining deep learning with symbolic reasoning, abstraction, planning and verification. The ambition is to build more trustworthy, interpretable, and robust cognitive systems that can operate reliably in complex, uncertain environments. 

EIC Pathfinder targets work in the earliest Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), typically TRL 1 to TRL 4 — i.e. from basic research up to proof-of-concept / lab validation.