Open Call: European Prize for Women Innovators powered by EIC & EIT

Application Deadline: December 1, 2026, at 17:00

About the Prize

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 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).

Prize Categories

There are three prize categories:

• EIC Women Innovators: Three prizes of EUR 100,000, EUR 70,000 and EUR 50,000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications
• EIC Rising Innovators: 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
• 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.

Funding Opportunities

The call for applications is open from 2 September until 1 December 2026, 17:00 CET. Please check the “How to apply” section for further information.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria to participate:

• The applicant must be a woman (Please remember you must apply as a natural person and not as a legal entity)
• The applicant must be legally established in an EU Member State, including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe
• The applicant must be the founder or co-founder of the company or organisation
• The company or organisation must be established in an EU Member State including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe, and registered or incorporated at least two years before the call year (before 1 January 2023)
• Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities

In addition to the above, those applying for the Rising Innovators category must be aged under 35 at the start of the call year. There is no age limit to apply for the Women Innovators category (or for the EIT Women Leadership category), though applicants eligible for several prize categories can only apply to one.

Award Criteria

Eligible applications will be evaluated against 3 award criteria:

• Breakthrough innovation: The company or organisation founded or co-founded by the applicant is pioneering a breakthrough and disruptive innovation focusing, among others, on deep-tech and Science Technology Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) fields within the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe
• Impact: This innovation addresses a real need or challenge, with significant benefits for people and/or the planet
• Inspiration: The applicant is an inspiring leader, who has played a pivotal role in the success of the company or organisation and is a role model empowering other women and girls in realising their full potential

How to Apply

Please consult the following documents before submitting your application:

• The Board welcomes with caution the adoption of the Council’s Partial General Approach and reiterates the need for reinforced integrity of the European innovators journey, including the distinct character of the EIC Fund, and significantly increased EIC budget

Click Here to Apply

For More Information: Visit the Official European Prize for Women Innovators Page