EIC Prize for Women Innovators

What is the EIC Women Innovators Prize?

The EIC Women Innovators Prize is dedicated to recognizing women founders and co-founders whose innovative companies have developed breakthrough technologies or solutions with tangible benefits for society, the economy, and the planet. It celebrates entrepreneurial achievement, innovation, and leadership rather than providing project-based research funding. It is jointly powered by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and is managed by EISMEA and the EIT.

The prize has three categories:

1. EIC Women Innovators: Recognizes women founders and co-founders behind groundbreaking innovations.
2. EIC Rising Innovators: Recognizes promising women innovators under the age of 35.
3. EIT Women Leadership: Recognizes exceptional women leaders with a direct link to the EIT Community.

EIC Women Innovators focus

The category is intended for women entrepreneurs who have:

• Founded or co-founded an innovative company or organization.
• Developed a breakthrough innovation, including deep-tech, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-based solutions.
• Created a demonstrable impact through their innovation, addressing important societal or environmental challenges.
• Demonstrated inspiring leadership and acted as a role model for women and girls in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Application requirements:

• Be a woman applying as a natural person, not as a legal entity.
• Be legally resident in an EU Member State or a country associated with Horizon Europe, such as Israel.
• Be the founder or co-founder of an innovative company or organization.
• Have a company or organization established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country, registered or incorporated at least one year before the relevant call year.
• Submit the application electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Meet the additional eligibility requirements of the specific category selected (EIC Women Innovators: no specific age limit; EIC Rising Innovators: under 35 years old; EIT Women Leadership: direct connection to the EIT Community).
• Apply to only one of the three categories.

The competition awards nine monetary prizes across its three categories. This is a recognition prize, rather than a research grant or equity investment.

Funding:

Category	1st Prize	2nd Prize	3rd Prize
EIC Women Innovators	EUR 100,000	EUR 70,000	EUR 50,000
EIC Rising Innovators	EUR 50,000	EUR 30,000	EUR 20,000
EIT Women Leadership	EUR 50,000	EUR 30,000	EUR 20,000

Evaluation process

Applications are evaluated by an independent expert jury against three award criteria:

1. Breakthrough innovation – the innovative and transformative nature of the company or organization’s innovation.
2. Impact – the positive effects of the innovation on people, society, the economy, or the planet.
3. Inspiration – the applicant’s entrepreneurial achievements, leadership, and ability to inspire other women and girls.

The winners are selected based on the jury’s evaluation and ranking.

Evaluation deadline

• Deadline for applications: December 1, 2026, at 17:00 CET.
• Eligible applications will be evaluated by an independent expert jury based on Breakthrough Innovation, Impact, and Inspiration. The jury will review the application form and the applicant’s 90-second inspiring video.
• Jury hearings: February–March 2027 – Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a hearing with the jury to discuss and defend their application.
• Shortlist/finalists’ announcements: March 2027 – The jury will announce the shortlist and finalists and select the winners based on the overall assessment of their applications.

For questions and more information: [email protected]