The European Prize for Women Innovators recognizes female entrepreneurs in the EU and nations affiliated with Horizon Europe who are spearheading innovative innovations. Selected by an impartial panel, winners are awarded a monetary reward and have the opportunity to improve society. The European Innovation Council and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology provide funding for this initiative.
With a €10.1 billion budget, the European Innovation Council (EIC) of the EU Horizon Europe program promotes innovations ranging from early-stage research to expanding start-ups and SMEs. Its approach is directed by the independent innovation professionals that make up the EIC Board.
Women from any EU member state or nation affiliated with Horizon Europe who started an inventive business registered at least two years prior to the award call are eligible to apply for the 2024 prize.
Categories include:
- Top female innovators are awarded the Women Innovators Prize.
- Young innovators under 35 can apply for the Rising Innovators Prize.
- For outstanding women within the EIT Community, there is the EIT Women Leadership Award.
- Candidates are evaluated based on their effect, inspirational leadership, and ground-breaking innovation.
Region: Online
Financial coverage: Paid
Opportunity Type: Competitions
Eligibility Criteria:
- A woman must be the applicant.
- must be a citizen of an EU member state or a nation affiliated with Horizon Europe.
- Must be the company’s or organisation’s founder or co-founder.
- The company must have been registered for the application call at least two years before.
- There is no upper age limit for the EIT Women Leadership Prize or the Women Innovators category.
- Candidates must be under 35 to be eligible for the Rising Innovators category.
- Only one category is open to applications.
Benefits:
The best female innovators from the qualifying regions will receive the EIC Women Innovators Prize.
- Winner: 100,000 euros
- First place runner-up: 70,000 EUR
- Second place: fifty thousand euros
Promising young innovators under 35 years old will receive the EIC Rising Innovators Prize.
- Winner: fifty thousand euros
- Third place finisher: EUR 30,000
- Second place finisher: EUR 20,000
Remarkable female leaders within the EIT Community will receive the EIT Women Leadership Award.
- Winner: EUR 50,000
- First runner-up: EUR 30,000
Deadline: September 25, 2024
