What is a PATHFINDER initiative?

These are larger-scale targeted initiatives within newly emerging fields of science and technology, each involving several complementary projects.

The aim is to help European scientists take the lead in pioneering new fields, and to build up European capability in such fields by providing an "early stage funding". NEST will focus here on clearly-identified areas with substantial longer-term promise for Europe. In cases where PATHFINDER initiatives prove their potential, this should also prepare the ground for wider support to new fields in future European research programmes.

PATHFINDER initiatives may vary in size (up to 10-12 Mio. Euro per initiative). Each will normally comprise a number of STREPs (Specific Targeted Research Projects) and a Co-ordination Action to provide networking across the field. Proposals are submitted and evaluated separately, but each component project will be expected to work closely with other projects within the initiative.

New emerging fields and or topics for PATHFINDER initiatives are selected by the European Commission on the basis of a range of inputs, in particular through consultations with the scientific community, outputs of other NEST projects, and high-level scientific advice.

Working document on Pathfinder initiatives (Jan 2003)