ECOSYSTEM at the EIC Pathfinder Portfolio Kick-off Meeting

Last 17th October 2025 ECOSYSTEM had the opportunity to participate in the Kick-off meeting for EIC PATHFINDER challenge Nature-inspired Alternatives for Food Packaging and Films for Agriculture Portfolio held in Brussels and chaired by the EIC Programme Manager for Food Chain Technologies, Prof. Ivan Stefanic (European Innovation Council, EIC-Pathfinder).  The in-person event allowed ECOSYSTEM representatives to introduce the project, to gain an understanding of specific technical approaches shared with other portfolio projects, as well as to constitute the different Working Groups.

The EIC Pathfinder is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to research teams at different levels: funding research to develop breakthrough technologies, building and generating new cutting-edge directions in science and technology, creating new opportunities for disrupting scientific fields and markets and identifying technological solutions and their scale-up; among others. To apply to the EIC Pathfinder funding and tenders opportunities, consortia of at least three independent entities -at least one established in a member state- can apply via EIC Pathfinder Open calls or EIC Pathfinder Challenges.

Projects from the EIC Pathfinder scheme with techno-scientific overlaps are grouped into portfolios. Specific portfolio objectives and activities are incorporated in the strategic plans for each EIC Challenge, and all projects allocated under a portfolio work collaboratively in order to optimise resources and synergies. In the case of the Nature-inspired Alternatives for Food Packaging and Films for Agriculture Portfolio, 6 projects are currently in motion, all funded under the call HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-03:

1. CELLAGRI – Cellulose-based mulch films with nature-inspired water-management structures for agricultural applications - GA: 101223132 (CELLAGRI, CORDIS).
2. BIO4PACK – Biodegradable bio-based bioactive packaging technology for supporting food safety – GA: 101223372 (BIO4PACK, CORDIS).
3. BORN – Biobased thermal-resistant food packaging – GA: 101223095 (BORN, CORDIS).
4. SATISPHACTION – Upcycling PHAs to innovate materials for fully sustainable food packaging – GA: 101223094 (SATISPHACTION, CORDIS).
5. ECOSYSTEM – Emerging eco-active materials by sustainable tools from natural renewable residues – GA: 101223300 (ECOSYSTEM, CORDIS).
6. BIO2PES – Development of bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene and polyesters for food packaging and agricultural applications – GA: 101221903 (BIO2PES, CORDIS).

This Pathfinder Challenge supports ambitious research to develop sustainable, nature-inspired materials for food packaging and agriculture that match plastic functionality while reducing environmental footprints. The projects funded under the Challenge 3 aim to span the full lifecycle of materials and products, using abundant bio-based polymers, ensuring safety, circularity, reusability and full biodegradability; and meeting strict regulatory and sanitary standards. All projects will pursue improved lifecycle assessments and are expected to deliver products with enhanced performance. Reaching at least TRL 4 and collectively supporting a shift towards a circular, climate-neutral, pollution-free food and agriculture sector.

References:

1. WEBSITE: European Innovation Council, EIC-Pathfinder.
2. WEBSITE: CELLAGRI, CORDIS – EU research results.
3. WEBSITE: BIO4PACK, CORDIS – EU research results.
4. WEBSITE: BORN, CORDIS – EU research results.
5. WEBSITE: SATISPHACTION, CORDIS – EU research results.
6. WEBSITE: ECOSYSTEM, CORDIS – EU research results.
7. WEBSITE: BIO2PES, CORDIS – EU research results.
8. WEBSITE: HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-03 – EU funding tenders portal.