Empowering Europe’s Female Changemakers
In an era rapidly defined by technological breakthroughs and global challenges, it’s crucial to spotlight those driving real impact. The European Prize for Women Innovators, a collaborative initiative by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), does exactly that—shining a spotlight on women founders and co-founders across Europe whose work is reshaping health, sustainability, digital economies, and more.

What is the Prize?
Originally launched in 2011 as the “European Woman Innovator of the Year,” this prize has evolved into a multi-category recognition by 2023, now awarding nine prizes annually. The categories include:
1. EIC Women Innovators – three main awards of €100 000, €70 000, and €50 000 for established women entrepreneurs.
2. EIC Rising Innovators – aimed at promising innovators under 35, with prizes of €50 000, €30 000, and €20 000.
3. EIT Women Leadership Award – recognizing exceptional leaders within the EIT ecosystem, also offering €50 000, €30 000, and €20 000.

Launched on 17th June 2025, the 2026 edition is now accepting submissions, with a deadline of 25th September 2025 at 17:00 CEST.

Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, applicants must be:
• A natural person identifying as a woman.
• The founder or co-founder of a company or organisation legally established in an EU Member State (including overseas territories) or Horizon Europe–associated country.
• Their company must have been registered at least two years prior to 1st January 2022.
• Women under 35 can apply to the Rising Innovators category; there’s no age limit to the other categories.

Applicants cannot apply to more than one category or have previously won an EU/Euratom prize for the same achievement.

Award Criteria
Evaluations are based on three pillars:
1. Breakthrough Innovation – evidence of deep-tech or STEM-based disruptive innovation.
2. Impact – tangible benefits for people or the planet.
3. Inspiration – leadership that uplifts other women and girls.

Why It Matters
Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in tech and innovation, a gap only widened by systemic barriers in funding and visibility. This prize tackles that head-on, offering substantial financial support, visibility, and a network of peer inspiration. With a top prize of €100 000, alongside runner-up prizes reaching up to €70 000, plus broad media exposure, awardees gain momentum that can supercharge both commercial success and societal impact.

Real-World Impact: Stories from 2025 Winners
Insight comes alive in the stories of last year’s awardees, including those profiled by Sifted and other innovation press:

Women Innovators Award – Agnès Arbat (Oxolife, Spain)
Agnès Arbat co-founded Oxolife to revolutionize fertility treatment. Their flagship drug, OXO 001, significantly improves embryo implantation, boosting live birth rates by about 7% (148 babies born during Phase II trials). Backed by EIT Health and other grants, they’re now advancing towards Phase II trials for PCOS patients in 2026. “All the funds…specifically regarding EIT Health…helped us design the Phase II trial,” says Arbat.
Her research directly addresses infertility, a key health challenge, and showcases women’s central role in biotech innovation.

Rising Innovators – Camille Bouget (Scienta Lab, France)
Under 35, Camille Bouget co-founded Scienta Lab, developing EVA, an AI platform predicting drug efficacy for immuno-inflammatory diseases. With €4.4 million raised, EVA evaluates treatments across 15 conditions, reducing risk early in drug development.
“We can help pave the way for a more inclusive innovation ecosystem…,” Bouget reflects.
She demonstrates how youthful insight, when paired with deep industry know-how, she came from Sanofi and Galápagos, can redefine healthcare innovation.

EIT Women Leadership – Débora Campos (AgroGrIN Tech, Portugal)
Débora Campos founded AgroGrIN Tech to convert industrial fruit waste into functional food ingredients. Following a PhD project, her business now pilots clean-label solutions for food manufacturers, merging sustainability with profitability. “That ecosystem helped us sharpen our business model… accelerate our go-to market strategy,” she says. Her win signals how circular economy innovation can scale, and how support from entities like EIT Food can be transformative.

Support Ecosystem & Evaluation Process
Eligible candidates choose one category and apply via the European Commission’s Funding & Tender portal, where detailed contest rules and submission guides are available.

Applications follow a strict structure:
• Form A (admin) and Form B (technical, max 15 pages)
• Supporting annexes
• A 90-second inspirational video.

A jury of independent experts selects winners based on the three award criteria, ensuring transparency and meritocracy.

How to Apply: Key Dates & Steps
• Launched: 17th June 2025
• Deadline: 25th September 2025 at 17:00 CEST
• Evaluation: September 2025–January 2026
• Awards Ceremony: January–March 2026

Why You Should Consider Applying
1. Boost to innovation – The prize money injects growth capital into R&D, scaling, or market entry.
2. Unmatched visibility – EU-level recognition, featured at events like the EIC Summit.
3. Peer learning – Join an elite community of women leaders.
4. Credibility – Builds trust with investors and strategic partners.
5. Inspiration multiplier – Awardees become role models for women and girls in STEM.

Broader Legacy & Future Outlook
Since its inception, this prize has recognised dozens of women across Europe and associated countries, for example, winners in 2022 included Rocío Arroyo (Spain), Ciara Clancy (Ireland), and others. These laureates now lead in sectors ranging from biotech to sustainable energy.

Today’s expansion, with more categories, bigger prizes, and open eligibility across EU and associated nations, demonstrates strong commitment to diversity in innovation. By 2026, the award infrastructure will include support webinars, mentorship opportunities, and more visible storytelling.