EIC Pathfinder Challenge
The prestigious award recognizes innovative projects that have the potential to develop breakthrough solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
What is the EIC Pathfinder Challenge
The EIC Pathfinder Challenge is an initiative of the European Innovation Council (EIC) that aims to promote visionary ideas and technologies. The Challenge is aimed at scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators who are at the cutting edge of technological development. The aim is to support disruptive innovations that not only promote economic growth, but also address social and environmental challenges. The challenge is aimed at interdisciplinary teams that pursue creative approaches and are prepared to take risks.
Objectives of the EIC Pathfinder Challenge
1. Promote innovation: The EIC Pathfinder Challenge supports projects that have the potential to revolutionize existing markets or create new markets.
2. Interdisciplinary collaboration: the initiative encourages teams from different disciplines to work together to develop more comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
3. Sustainable development: a key aspect of the EIC Pathfinder Challenge is to promote innovation that contributes to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
4. Strengthen Europe’s competitiveness: By supporting innovative projects, the EIC Pathfinder Challenge helps to consolidate Europe’s position as a global innovation leader.
EIC Pathfinder Challenge 2023 - Clean and efficient cooling
The EIC Pathfinder Challenge ‚Clean and efficient cooling‘ aims at advancing scientific knowledge and technological development of novel, clean and efficient cooling solutions that fully underpin “cold economy” vision. That includes:
1. Reduce investment and operational costs
2. Increase efficiency, operational reliability and interoperability
3. Avoid the use of critical raw materials or harmful refrigerants and
4. Pursue circularity by design approaches, low environmental impact and low carbon footprint
The Portfolio of innovation projects for 'Clean and efficient cooling'
The European Innovation Council asks projects funded under the same challenge to collaborate to reach common goals and to provide information and benefit to industry, policymakers and the public. This set of 10 projects that work together is called the „Clean and Efficient Cooling Portfolio“.
The portfolio will inform industry, policymakers, and the public about advances in new cooling technologies. They will create common testing standards and performance criteria for new cooling solutions. Junior researchers will be able to learn from senior researchers in tutorials about advanced scientific techniques like the simulation of new cooling technologies.
Find more information about the portfolio at https://eic-cooling.eu/
SMACool
SMACool meets the criteria of the EIC Pathfinder Challenge 2023 ‘Clean and efficient cooling’ by developing a functional air-conditioning device for residential buildings based on the emerging technology of elastocalorics by reducing operational costs, reaching outstanding energy efficiency and zero global warming potential, using metals as solid-state refrigerant material instead of the harmful fluids used in cooling systems today.
The interdisciplinary project consortium consisting of three European Universities from Germany, Italy and Slovenia and one emerging high-tech company from Ireland.
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