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Instrument navigator for policy makers

Decision support, not legal advice. This navigator orders options from your answers with a fixed, published rule set; it does not decide. The legal basis, the work programme, the call conditions and the Financial Regulation prevail. Check with the responsible Directorate-General, the implementing body and your legal service before choosing an instrument.

Something to do and not sure which EU instrument fits? Answer a few questions (each has "Not sure") and the navigator ranks the instruments that could do it: Horizon Europe actions and partnerships, Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, the EuroHPC and Chips Joint Undertakings, procurement procedures, pre-commercial procurement and public procurement of innovation, EIC and EIB Group finance, State aid and IPCEI, Member State-managed funds and networks. Each result says why it fits, why not, who runs it and what to read next.

Download the knowledge base (CSV) · Download the knowledge base (JSON) · Funding instruments · Who can participate? · Programme pipeline · EU legislation tracker

Questionnaire

Answer what you know; "Not sure" never counts against an instrument. Questions that do not matter for your goal are set aside.

1. What do you want to do?

The main purpose of the action. Pick the closest; the other questions refine it.

2. How should the EU act?

Funding others (grants), buying for itself or for public authorities (procurement), investing or lending, or pooling Member States and national programmes.

3. How mature is the technology?

Technology readiness levels (TRL) as in the Horizon Europe General Annexes: 1-3 basic principles to proof of concept, 4-6 validation and demonstration in a relevant environment, 7-8 prototype in an operational environment to a qualified system, 9 proven in operation.

4. Who should do the work or receive the support?

The organisations that carry out the action or are supported.

5. How many countries take part?

Where the action takes place and who must join.

6. Will national or regional money co-fund it?

Some instruments need Member State or national co-funding; others are funded by the EU budget alone.

7. What is the order of magnitude of the money involved?

Total public money for the action, EU and national together.

8. When must it start?

Instruments that need a new work programme, a Member State agreement or a Commission decision take longer than a call already planned.

9. Must the results belong to the public buyer?

In grants the beneficiaries own the results; in procurement the buyer usually owns or uses them; in pre-commercial procurement the suppliers keep the intellectual property and the buyer gets use rights.

10. Is the subject security-sensitive?

Security-sensitive: participation may be limited to EU-controlled entities (as Horizon Europe Article 22(5) and Digital Europe Article 12 allow). Defence: military use or classified information.

Start again

Security or defence goals: the defence instruments are shown in the restricted view for Commission and Member State users.

Compare instruments

Tick two to four instruments; the first four ticked are compared.

Horizon Europe: collaborative actions
Horizon Europe: researchers, excellence and widening
European Innovation Council
European partnerships and Missions
Digital Europe Programme
Connecting Europe Facility (Digital)
Joint Undertakings (EuroHPC, Chips)
Procurement procedures (Financial Regulation)
Innovation procurement (PCP and PPI)
Finance: equity, loans and guarantees
State aid and IPCEI
Funds managed by the Member States
Networks and national partnerships

Decision tree

What you want to do, then how the EU acts, then the instruments the rules rank first from those two answers alone. The full questionnaire refines the order. Each branch opens the questionnaire with those two answers.

Worked examples

  • Install a quantum computer for European users

    A Member State and its national supercomputing centre want a quantum computer coupled to a supercomputer, open to European users, owned by the public side.

    The rules rank first: EuroHPC JU quantum computer procurement; Competitive dialogue

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • QKD testbeds and links across Member States

    Several Member States want national quantum communication infrastructures connected across borders as part of EuroQCI.

    The rules rank first: EuroQCI national projects (DEP); CEF Digital (EuroQCI links)

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • A public need no product meets yet

    Public authorities need a quantum-safe sensing or timing service that does not exist yet; they want suppliers to develop and test competing solutions.

    The rules rank first: Pre-commercial procurement (PCP); Innovation partnership

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Scale up a quantum start-up

    A European quantum hardware start-up with a working prototype needs money to grow and reach the market.

    The rules rank first: EIC Accelerator; EIC Fund (equity)

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • A pilot line for quantum chips

    Research and technology organisations from several Member States want a shared pilot line to fabricate and test quantum chips, with national co-funding.

    The rules rank first: Chips JU pilot lines; IPCEI

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Attract and train quantum researchers

    A ministry wants more top quantum researchers and doctoral candidates in its universities.

    The rules rank first: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions; ERA Chairs

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Align national quantum research programmes

    National funders of several countries want joint calls for quantum research, each funding its own teams.

    The rules rank first: Programme co-fund (co-funded partnership); QuantERA

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Collaborative research on quantum sensing

    Universities and companies from several countries want to advance quantum sensors from proof of concept to lab validation.

    The rules rank first: Horizon Europe RIA; EuroHPC JU quantum grants

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Support standardisation and a community roadmap

    The Commission wants European stakeholders to coordinate their input to quantum standards and update a strategic roadmap.

    The rules rank first: Horizon Europe CSA; COST Action

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • A first industrial deployment across Member States

    Several Member States want to support companies in a large first industrial deployment of quantum technologies, beyond what the market would fund.

    The rules rank first: IPCEI; Chips JU pilot lines

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Buy an existing service

    A Commission service needs a study or an off-the-shelf service on post-quantum migration, available on the market today.

    The rules rank first: Open procedure; Restricted procedure

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • Network researchers across Europe and beyond

    Researchers want a pan-European network with partners outside the EU for meetings, training schools and short visits.

    The rules rank first: COST Action; Horizon Europe CSA

    Open this example in the questionnaire

  • A regional quantum programme

    A region wants to fund quantum testbeds and company projects from its regional development programme.

    The rules rank first: Cohesion policy funds (ERDF); Teaming for Excellence

    Open this example in the questionnaire

All instruments

EIC Pathfinder (Open and Challenges) (Verified)

Kind
Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work)
What it is for
Designed by
Implemented by
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) implements Horizon Europe EIC activities except the EIC Fund; EIC Programme Managers manage Challenge portfolios. (European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026, Annex to C(2026) 4080, Glossary, p. 19; Key features, pp. 12-14)
Who can apply or take part
Funding rate or co-funding
Pathfinder grants are Research and Innovation Actions funded at 100% of eligible costs as a lump sum. (European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026, Annex to C(2026) 4080, II.1 What support will you receive, p. 28; II.2, p. 34)
Typical size
Maturity (TRL)
Pathfinder Open supports low TRL work (for example TRL 1 to 4); Challenges usually start around TRL 2 and aim for proof of concept or lab validation (TRL 3 or 4). (European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026, Annex to C(2026) 4080, II.1 Why should you apply?, p. 26; II.2, p. 32; overview table p. 9)
Who owns the results
Time to grant or contract
Applicants are informed within 5 months of the call deadline and grants are signed by 8 months (indicative). (European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026, Annex to C(2026) 4080, II.1 How do you apply; how long does it take?, p. 29; II.2, p. 35)
Legal basis
Horizon Europe Regulation, Article 47 (The Pathfinder); the EIC is established under Article 9. (Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, Articles 9 and 47)
Work programme, committee or other step needed
Conditions and limits
Quantum examples
Who to contact
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
Next steps
  • Pathfinder Open is bottom-up; a Pathfinder Challenge on a quantum theme would have to be set in the EIC work programme.
  • Contact the EIC and its programme managers.

Funding instrument record: eic-pathfinder · Who can participate: eic

Verification
Verified. I read Section II and Annex 6 of the EIC Work Programme 2026, the 2026 Challenges page, Article 47 of Regulation 2021/695 and Articles 12-13 of Decision 2021/764. The 2022 quantum Challenge name comes from CORDIS project call data, not the 2022 work programme.

Back to all instruments

Open an instrument for all its facts, sources, contact and next steps. The CSV and JSON downloads hold the whole knowledge base.

Horizon Europe: collaborative actions

Horizon Europe: researchers, excellence and widening

European Innovation Council

European partnerships and Missions

Digital Europe Programme

Connecting Europe Facility (Digital)

Joint Undertakings (EuroHPC, Chips)

Procurement procedures (Financial Regulation)

Innovation procurement (PCP and PPI)

Finance: equity, loans and guarantees

State aid and IPCEI

Funds managed by the Member States

Networks and national partnerships

How the navigator decides

Each answer you give (not "Not sure", and not a question set aside for your goal) is compared with the fit profile of every instrument. An instrument earns the question's weight when your answer is one of the options its profile lists; for the goal it earns the weight times the level its profile gives that goal (3 a primary purpose, 2 a common use, 1 possible but not its main use, 0 not for this). The score is the share of the weights it earned among those it could earn, in per cent; a question its profile leaves empty does not matter for it and counts neither way. A mismatch on a blocking question (the goal at level 0, how the EU acts, who must own the results, sensitivity) rules the instrument out and the reason is shown. Ties go to the higher goal level, then to the order of the knowledge base. Results at 75% or more are a strong fit, at 55% or more a good fit, from 40% a possible fit; at most eight are shown. The decision tree uses the same rules with the goal and the role answers alone. Nothing is learned from use and no AI is involved.

Weights of the questions
QuestionWeightA mismatch rules the instrument out
Goal30Yes
How the EU acts18Yes
Maturity12No
Who acts10No
Countries8No
National co-funding6No
Budget6No
Timeframe5No
Ownership of results10Yes
Sensitivity8Yes

48 instruments, 165 official sources; compiled 2026-10-25, assembled 2026-11-02; reviewed every 180 days, since work programmes change.

Knowledge base of EU instruments for the instrument navigator, compiled from official sources (EUR-Lex read through the Publications Office where EUR-Lex refused automated reading, the Funding & Tenders Portal, work programmes, Commission, agency and Joint Undertaking pages, CORDIS) on the dates shown with each source. Each fact is written in the portal's own words with its source and locator; figures appear only where the source states them. A record marked partly verified has at least one fact read on a summary page or a key page that could not be read. The fit profiles and weights are the portal's editorial rule set, documented in docs/modules/instrument-navigator.md, not official guidance.

Official pages that could not be read when compiled
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R0695: HTTP 202 with empty body (EUR-Lex bot challenge); read via Publications Office (2026-10-25)
  • https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/starting-grant: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/proof-concept: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf: HTTP 404 (wrong filename; correct file read instead) (2026-10-25)
  • https://eic.ec.europa.eu/investment-opportunities/eic-fund_en: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/work-programmes-digital: HTTP 403 (curl, WebFetch and browser pane) (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/work-programme-2025-2027-digital-europe-programme-digital: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/amendment-digital-europe-programme-and-work-programme-2025-2027: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R0694: HTTP 202 with empty body; read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/edic: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022D2481: HTTP 202 with empty body; read via Publications Office (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/european-quantum-communication-infrastructure-euroqci: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1153: HTTP 202 with empty body; read via Publications Office (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1173: HTTP 202 with empty body (bot challenge); read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/eu-invests-eu65-million-quantum-chips: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/factpages/european-chips-act-chips-europe-initiative: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/chips-competence-centres-strengthen-semiconductor-expertise-across-europe-about-kick: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://www.chips-ju.europa.eu/CompCentres/: Page Not Found (2026-10-25)
  • https://aar2024.chips-ju.europa.eu/annual-report/competence-centres: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)
  • https://www.cost.eu/funding/how-to-get-funding/: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)
  • https://eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/eurostars/: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/network-projects/: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R2509: AWS WAF challenge / empty content; read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014L0024: AWS WAF challenge; read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/pre-commercial-procurement: HTTP 403 (WebFetch, curl and browser) (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52021XC0706(02): EUR-Lex empty / WAF; the guidance was read from the Commission docsroom PDF (2026-10-25)
  • https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/public-procurement-innovative-solutions: HTTP 403 (WebFetch, curl and browser) (2026-10-25)
  • https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R0697: Empty response (HTTP 202, 0 bytes); acts read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
  • https://www.eib.org/en/products/equity/venture-debt/index: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare block) via curl, WebFetch and browser (2026-10-25)
  • https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2022-207-finland-iqm-s-quantum-fabrication-facility-gets-a-eur35-million-boost-from-the-eib: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare block) (2026-10-25)
  • https://www.eif.org/etci/index.htm: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
  • https://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/escalar/index.htm: HTTP 403 (curl and WebFetch) (2026-10-25)
  • https://kohesio.ec.europa.eu/en/projects?keywords=quantum%20computer: HTTP 403 (curl and browser) (2026-10-25)
  • https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en: Redirects to a language-selection page; content read at reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu instead (2026-10-25)
  • https://eda.europa.eu/what-we-do/eu-defence-initiatives/projects: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)

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