Something of interest for e-SAFE's readers: the Challenge dedicated to “Architecture, Engineering and Construction digitalisation for a novel triad of design, fabrication, and materials”. You might be interested to submit a proposal ! 

EIC Pathfinder Challenges funding opportunity, is promoted by European Innovation Council (EIC) which supports innovation and all its phases, including start-up growth and small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) expansion, validation and demonstration of ground-breaking technologies, and research and development on the scientific foundations of new discoveries. The “EIC Pathfinder” for advanced research on breakthrough technologies is one of the three main funding schemes through which the EIC provides financial support. Other funding opportunities within EIC’s funding schemes are “EIC Transition” and “EIC Accelerator”.  

The Strategic EIC Pathfinder Challenges 

“EIC Pathfinder” fosters innovation through 2 funding schemes: “EIC Pathfinder Open”, following a complet bottom up approach,  and “EIC Pathfinder Challenges”. The EIC Pathfinder Challenges call, EIC wants to support coherent portfolios of projects within predetermined thematic areas to achieve a specific goal. Projects funded under the “EIC Pathfinder Challenges” programme are expected to collaborate and progress together towards common goals and create new opportunities for radical innovation.  

One of the challenge for this call is dedicated to:  

Architecture, Engineering and Construction digitalisation for a novel triad of design, fabrication, and materials 

This challenge aims to produce early breakthroughs and research with potential in design, fabrication, and materials for the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) value chain, made possible by cutting-edge digitalization and innovative algorithms. In response to increasingly ambitious requirements for climate neutral, sustainable, inclusive, aesthetically pleasing, and inspirational buildings, this combination may enable designers, architects, engineers, and fabricators to imagine, design, optimize, and create complex and efficient structures within a digitalization pathway. This Challenge seeks the realisation of disruptive solutions for AEC in one or more of the following areas: 

• Computational design approaches that advance the state of the art in agent-based modeling, topology optimization, physical simulation, digital representations like digital twins, and natural design was used.  
• Digital fabrication solutions synchronous with a vast potential of the nearly unlimited complexity of computational design.  
• Alternative materials as a field where the mix with digital design and digital fabrication technologies can be demonstrated by the AEC sector to vastly reduce the use of cement and its CO2 emissions in the transition to net zero. 

Funded projects will receive grants of up to EUR 4 million, or more if duly justified, to achieve the proof of principle and validate the scientific basis of breakthrough technology. Candidate projects are expected to have a Technology Readiness Levels from 1 to 4. In addition to funding, successful applicants will receive tailor-made access to a wide range of Business Acceleration Services and interactions with EIC Programme Managers and other actions in the portfolio of projects selected. 

The call will open on 20 June 2023 and it will be closed on 18 October 2023 at 17h00 Brussels local time. 

Find out more about the call for proposals at the following link!