European Prize for Women Innovators

Expand Your Recognition with the EU Prize for Women Innovators

Achieve a prize from the EIC & EIT and recognition for women entrepreneurs who are shaping Europe’s innovation landscape.

Download our Funding Guide

Contact us

The EU Prize for Women Innovators was designed to spotlight female founders driving innovation across Europe.

Whether you’re launching a deep-tech venture, scaling a science-driven company, or building impact through technology, the EU Prize for Women Innovators offers prestigious recognition, financial rewards, and EU-wide visibility to accelerate your journey and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Equity-Free Awards

Win up to €100,000 with no equity taken – celebrating your achievements and empowering future growth.

Female Innovator Focus

Open exclusively to women founders or co-founders of companies delivering outstanding innovation in science, tech, or entrepreneurship.

European Recognition

Gain high-profile visibility across Europe through the European Commission and EIC communication networks.

Three Distinct Prize Tracks

Separate awards for established innovators, rising talents, and EIT women leaders ensure recognition across experience levels.

€100k

grand prize max. amount

3

categories

2+

years min. operational history required

27+

participating countries

What you need
to know before
applying

Start your eligibility check now

 

💡 Start early! Begin preparing your application 2–3 months before submission.

About the EU Prize for Women Innovators

The EU Prize for Women Innovators is a prestigious award by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) that recognises women entrepreneurs who have founded or co-founded innovative companies with a strong impact in Europe.

It celebrates scientific, technological, and business excellence, offering up to €100,000 in equity-free funding and high-profile visibility to inspire the next generation of women in innovation. The prize highlights the vital role women play in shaping Europe’s future through innovation and leadership.

What do winners of the EU Prize for Women Innovators receive?

Winners of the EU Prize for Women Innovators receive prestigious, equity-free cash awards that recognise their entrepreneurial achievements and support their continued growth. The prize money is non-dilutive, requires no co-financing, and is awarded directly—not as a grant or investment.

Prize amounts by category:

  • Women Innovators: €100,000 (winner), €70,000 and €50,000 (finalists)
  • Rising Innovators: €50,000 (winner), €30,000 and €20,000 (finalists)
  • EIT Women Leadership Award: €50,000 (winner), €30,000 and €20,000 (finalists)

In addition to financial support, winners gain European-wide visibility, recognition from the European Commission, and access to exclusive networking opportunities across the EU innovation ecosystem—enhancing their influence as leaders and role models.

Eligible candidates

To be eligible for the EU Prize for Women Innovators, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a woman founder or co-founder of an innovative company.
  • The company must be established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
  • The company must have been operational for at least 2 years by the call deadline.
  • Applicants must not have previously received the first prize in the same category.

Eligibility applies to all three categories: Women Innovators, Rising Innovators, and EIT Women Leadership Award.

Key deadlines

📅 Key Deadlines – Next Edition (Expected for 2026)

  • Call Launch: ~June 2026
  • Application Deadline: ~September 2026
  • Evaluation & Jury Review: Autumn 2026
  • Winners Announcement: Late 2026

These dates follow the typical annual cycle of the EU Prize for Women Innovators. Exact details will be confirmed in the official 2026 call publication, expected mid-year.

💡 Exact dates will be published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Application process

1.Check Eligibility
Ensure you meet the criteria: woman founder or co-founder of an innovative company, operational for 2+ years in the EU or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.

2. Choose Your Category: Select the most relevant prize track:

  • Women Innovators
  • Rising Innovators
  • EIT Women Leadership Award

3.Prepare Your Application: Complete your application via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, including:

  • Personal and company details
  • Innovation impact description
  • Supporting documents

4.Submit Before the Deadline: Upload your application by the published deadline (usually in September).

5.Expert Evaluation: Proposals are reviewed by an independent jury of innovation and business experts.

6.Award Announcement: Winners are announced at a high-level EU event later in the year.

Evaluation criteria

Eligible applications for the EU Prize for Women Innovators are assessed based on three core criteria:

  1. Breakthrough Innovation: The applicant’s company is driving a disruptive innovation, particularly in deep-tech or STEM fields, with clear leadership in pushing the boundaries of technology within the EU or Horizon Europe associated countries.
  2. Impact: The innovation addresses a meaningful societal or environmental challenge, delivering tangible benefits for people and/or the planet.
  3. Inspiration: The applicant demonstrates outstanding leadership and serves as a role model, actively inspiring and empowering other women and girls to pursue their full potential in innovation and entrepreneurship.

How We Support Your EU Prize for Women Innovators Application

  • Backed by PhDs, engineers, and finance experts, we guide you through every stage of the application process for the EU Prize for Women Innovators.
  • We combine strategic insight with narrative excellence to help outstanding women innovators present their achievements, impact, and leadership in a way that stands out to the jury and maximises their chances of winning the prize.
Control de convocatorias (1)

1. Opportunity Scouting

We assess your eligibility, achievements, and innovation profile to determine the best prize category and your competitiveness. In parallel, we screen and stay updated on other EU funding opportunities that may fit your profile, ensuring full visibility of complementary options.
Diagnóstico y preparación

2. Award Strategy & Application

We help shape a strong, compelling application by refining your personal and innovation narratives, highlighting achievements, impact, and leadership. We support the preparation of all required documentation and ensure full alignment with prize guidelines.

Obtención de ayuda (2)

3. Submission

We review and finalise the application to ensure clarity, compliance, and strong positioning. We also support you through any additional steps—such as requests for clarifications or jury interactions.

Gestión del proyecto (1)

4. Visibility Support & Post-Award Support

We provide coaching for public presentations or interviews and advise on post-award communication to maximise visibility. We also support ongoing coordination, follow-up actions, and integration of the prize into your broader funding and growth strategy.

Ready to boost your chances to win the EU Prize for Women Innovators?

Our consultants guide you through eligibility, application strategy, and crafting a standout narrative that captures the jury’s attention.

Contact our team

close-up-female-researcher-holding-glassware

“Evolution’s expertise and guidance were instrumental in securing our funding. Their support throughout the entire process, from crafting the proposal to preparing for the final pitch, was invaluable. It’s the most professional and comprehensive assistance we’ve ever received.”

Paul Kamoun, Director of Spacepharma

Admins using computer in data center office, running scripts

“Evolution was pivotal in improving and refining our business model and go-to-market strategy. Besides, the writing of the proposal was elevated to a very high standard; we could not have achieved this without Evolution’s help.”

Fadhil Musa, co-founder of Delox

quote-3

“At Evolution, we found the expertise and guidance in this domain to identify and target the right programme for us. Getting Evolution alongside was fundamental to ensure peace of mind and keep the start-up team focused on project development.”

Mathieu Horras, CEO, Founder & Board Member of Aspivix

Other funds that might
interest you

card-1

EIC Accelerator

Bring your deep-tech innovation to market with blended EU funding and investment.

  • Get up to €2.5 million in grant and €0.5–10 million in equity (or blended finance).
  • For startups and SMEs with technologies at TRL 5–8, ready to scale and commercialise globally.
card-3

Horizon Europe – Pillar 2

Tackle global challenges through collaborative R&I with EU support.

  • Get Research & Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) funding for large-scale collaborative projects.
  • For international consortia (min. 3 entities from 3 countries), aiming for scientific excellence and real-world impact.
personal_development_evolution_04

EIC STEP Scale-Up

Scale your strategic tech company with major EU equity investment through the EIC STEP programme.

  • Get €10–30 million in equity to drive industrial deployment and growth in deep-tech or critical technologies.
  • For startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps with technologies at TRL 6–9, aiming to scale in key strategic areas for Europe.

magazine

The ultimate guide to
securing R&D funding in
Europe

  • How to identify the best funding opportunities for your project
  • Learn strategies top innovators use to secure grants, navigate complex
    applications, and maximize funding potential.
  • Proven tips for writing winning grant proposals

Download now and boost your funding success!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the EU Prize for Women Innovators.

What is the innovation award for women?

The EU Prize for Women Innovators is the European Union’s premier innovation award for women entrepreneurs. It recognises and rewards women who have founded or co-founded innovative companies and who have demonstrated excellence in translating their ideas into impactful businesses. The award is part of broader efforts by EIC and EIT to increase gender equity in science, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

How much is the prize money of the European Prize for Women Innovators?

Up to €100,000 is awarded in the Women Innovators category, and up to €50,000 in Rising Innovators and EIT Women Leadership Award categories.

What are the benefits beyond the prize?

Winners receive significant visibility, professional recognition, and opportunities to act as role models for women in innovation.

What is the EIC Women Innovators category?

The EIC Women Innovators category refers to the top prize level in the EU Prize for Women Innovators. This category awards €100,000 to the highest-performing woman innovator, along with finalist prizes of €70,000 and €50,000. It highlights the achievements of women founders whose innovations have generated outstanding social or economic impact.

When is the next call?

The next edition of the EU Prize for Women Innovators (the “2026  edition”) has the following established timeline:

  • Call launch: 17 June 2025.

  • Application deadline: 25 September 2025, at 17:00 CEST.

While the next, 2027 edition is not yet officially scheduled, this schedule (call launch around June and deadline around September) is a good working assumption for planning purposes.

What countries participate in the EU Prize for Women Innovators?

The EU Prize for Women Innovators is open to applicants from:

  • All EU Member States, and

  • Horizon Europe Associated Countries, including countries like Norway, Iceland, Ukraine, Israel, Tunisia, and others.

To be eligible, the applicant’s company must be established and operational in one of these countries. The full and updated list of associated countries is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

How long does the EU Prize for Women Innovators competition run?

The EU Prize for Women Innovators is an annual competition. Each edition runs from the call launch to the award ceremony, typically over 6 to 9 months. Winners are announced in the same year the call closes, and the recognition and visibility benefits extend well beyond the award itself.

Ready to win the EU Prize for Women Innovators?

Get your free consultation Contact us today