Applications Now Open – EU Award for Gender Equality Champions 2026 (€400,000 in Prizes)

Application Deadline: September 29, 2026

About the Award

The European Commission launched the application process for the 2026 EU Award for Gender Equality Champions. For the first time, this edition expands eligibility to organisations active in research and innovation from countries currently holding candidate status for EU accession. The prize features three distinct award categories, allowing support for the further development of institutional equality initiatives. Eligible higher education institutions, universities, and organisations conducting research and innovation across EU Member States, Associated Countries, and candidate countries have until 29 September 2026 to submit their online applications via the Funding and Tenders Portal. Established in 2022 by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions aims to foster institutional change across the European Research Area (ERA) and beyond. The prize complements the mandatory requirement under the Horizon Europe framework, where public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions must have an active Gender Equality Plan to qualify for research funding. The initiative is managed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Background

Established in 2022 by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions aims to foster institutional change across the European Research Area (ERA) and beyond. The prize complements the mandatory requirement under the Horizon Europe framework, where public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions must have an active Gender Equality Plan to qualify for research funding. The initiative is managed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Award Categories

Organisations may apply to only one of the following three categories:

• Sustainable Gender Equality Champions: Recognises organisations demonstrating a significant, long-term track record of structural achievement through their Gender Equality Plans (GEP). One winner will be awarded.
• Newcomer Gender Equality Champions: Celebrates institutions that have recently finalised their first GEP and can show the most substantial progress in implementation. Two winners will be awarded.
• Inclusive Gender Equality Champions: Recognises pioneering institutions that address the intersection of gender with at least two other social categories, such as racial/ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or social origin. One winner will be awarded. To ensure a fair competition, institutions can only apply to one of these three categories, and past winners are not eligible to re-enter. Detailed eligibility and evaluation criteria can be found in the Rules of Contest, which all applicants should review carefully before submitting.

Why These Awards Matter

Gender equality in research and innovation is not only a matter of fairness but also of excellence. Diverse research teams produce more innovative, impactful, and socially relevant outcomes. Yet women remain underrepresented in research leadership, and intersectional inequalities persist across the European Research Area.

The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions addresses these gaps by:

• Recognising institutions that demonstrate significant, long-term structural achievement through Gender Equality Plans (Sustainable Champions)
• Celebrating institutions that have recently implemented their first Gender Equality Plan and show substantial progress (Newcomer Champions)
• Honouring pioneering institutions that address the intersection of gender with other social categories such as race, disability, sexual orientation, or social origin (Inclusive Champions)
• Providing €400,000 in prizes to support the further development of institutional equality initiatives
• Expanding eligibility to candidate countries for the first time, fostering a more integrated and inclusive European scientific community

For higher education institutions, universities, and research organisations across EU Member States, Associated Countries, and candidate countries, this award offers recognition, funding, and a platform to showcase their commitment to gender equality and institutional change.

Next Steps

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal by 29 September 2026. Following the deadline, an independent jury of international experts will evaluate all submissions. The official winners will be announced and celebrated at a dedicated award ceremony in Brussels in 2027.

How to Apply

Application Link: Click here to apply

For More Information: Visit the Official European Commission Award Page