Innovation and research

European Innovation Council & SMEs Executive Agency & European Institute for Innovation and Technology - EU Prize for Women Innovators

AWARD - The prize is awarded to the most talented women entrepreneurs from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, who have founded a successful company and brought innovation to market. The prize is launched and managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, and the winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.

 In the ‘Women Innovators’ main category, 3 prizes of EUR 100 000 each are awarded to the women who, in the opinion of the jury, have excelled in all award criteria and stood out amongst the other applicants. In the second category, 1 prize of EUR 50 000 is awarded to a promising ‘Rising Innovator’ aged 30 or younger.

Watch out for the 2025 edition, to be expected to go live June 2025.

European Innovation Council - Women Leadership Programme

EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT - To further support the role of women in innovation and tech the European Innovation Council (EIC) is offering a skills enhancement and networking programme for EIC-supported women entrepreneurs and researchers, the Women Leadership Programme (WLP).  

Watch out for the 2025 edition, to be expected to go live June 2025.

Who can participate?

The EIC Women Leadership Programme targets EIC beneficiaries, specifically:

• Business women in in management positions, who want to strengthen their skills and expand their network;

• Women within established companies aspiring to take over leadership positions in business development;

• Women researchers involved in research projects aspiring to lead the transition of their research into businesses.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology - Girls Go Circular

EDUCATION - In 2021, 12 000 schoolgirls aged 14-18 will participate in online training, encompassing individual work as well as group activities and leadership challenges. The students will not only use digital media as a platform to study, work and develop ideas, but also as a means to train their leadership skills. Themes like food, fashion and the use and disposal of technological appliances will be the cornerstones of this learning, empowering girls to become part of the solution to the current sustainability challenge.

Girls Go Circular is an initiative of EIT RawMaterials and EIT Manufacturing executed in partnership with Brainshuttle and Junior Achievement Europe. The project is a part of the Cross-KIC Skills for Future Initiative, a groundbreaking secondary education programme, fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs in Europe.

NETWORKING EVENT - Stay tuned for the next event discussing the actions we need to take to close the #STEMgendergap together! The forum is organised by #GirlsGoCircular, in collaboration with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). Register here

European Institute of Innovation and Technology - EIT Health - Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

EDUCATION - Are you prepared to skyrocket your women-led or co-led healthcare start-up to new heights? Welcome to our Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp – a customised experience crafted exclusively for you.

Dive into an immersive Bootcamp, where you’ll undergo intensive business and product training. Our expert mentors will guide you to uncover ambitions for success and shape a compelling value proposition for your start up that resonates.

But that’s not all – take advantage of our networking opportunities that can catapult your entrepreneurial journey. Connect, collaborate and pave the way for start-up success.

Applications to Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp are now open. Don’t miss your chance and be a part of this journey. Apply by 16 April!