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European Prize for Women Innovators
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About [EN]
This prize celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s ground-breaking innovations
The European Prize for Women Innovators is jointly awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Through this collaboration, the EIT and EIC are showcasing a large pool of women innovators, offering more opportunities for trailblazers, and providing inspiring role models for women and girls everywhere.
The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe's most game-changing innovations. The prize awards women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.
Since 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT) have teamed up to create a bigger and bolder European Prize for Women Innovators, with no fewer than 9 prizes to be awarded.
The call is launched in accordance with the 2025 European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme and is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
2026 edition
On 17 June 2025, the European Commission has launched the 2026 edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators.
The deadline of the calls is 25 September 2025, 17:00 CEST. For further information on how to apply, please check below, under "Funding opportunities".
Do you need some inspiration for applying?
Find out more about 2025's winners: EU Prize for Women Innovators 2025: the winners
Categories
There are three prize categories:
In the EIC Women Innovators category,
three prizes of EUR 100 000, EUR 70 000 and EUR 50 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications;
In the EIC Rising Innovators category,
three prizes of EUR 50 000, EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications from promising ‘Rising Innovators’ under the age of 35.
The EIT Women Leadership Award,
awarded to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community. The winner is awarded EUR 50 000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively.
Eligible applicants can only apply to one category. The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.