DeepRAP: Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems
EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026 · HORIZON-EIC · TRL 1 to 4
What this call funds
This call funds early stage research that pushes AI beyond current deep learning limits into deep reasoning, abstraction and planning, aiming to build trustworthy cognitive AI systems. Projects should combine approaches like neuro-symbolic AI, causal inference and world models, and demonstrate them in an integrated cognitive AI system tackling real world tasks such as scientific discovery or decision support. Selected projects join a coordinated portfolio working on shared benchmarks, interoperability and joint pilots.
artificial intelligence · machine learning · research excellence · deep tech
Who wins this
A research consortium or single research organisation exploring novel AI architectures beyond current deep learning and reinforcement learning paradigms, aiming to demonstrate a trustworthy cognitive AI system at low to mid TRL.
Could you win this call?
Only the website is required.
The call in detail
- Indicative grant size
- €500k to €4M
- Funding model
- Lump sum. Paid per completed work package, with no financial reporting of actual costs
- Submission
- Single-stage submission (full proposal at once)
- Type of action
- HORIZON EIC Grants
- Partners
- Not stated in the call.
- Eligible applicants
- university, research organisation, SME, startup, natural persons
- Also required
- Single beneficiary projects cannot be mid caps or larger companies, and consortia of three or more entities must include beneficiaries from at least three different countries with at least one in a Member State.
- Eligible countries (45)
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Israel, Türkiye, Ukraine, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Tunisia, New Zealand
Read the full conditions from the official call ›
General conditions 1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout 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: at least one legal entity established in a Member State; and at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries. 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. 2. Eligible countries Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. 3. Other Eligibility Conditions Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants Please refer to the Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (Lump Sum MGA) used for Lump Sum EIC actions under Horizon Europe. Specific conditions Described in the EIC Work Programme 2026. Call Documents: EIC Work Programme 2026 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)