European Prize for Women Innovators, powered by EIC & EIT
European Prize for Women Innovators
Status not published
Recurring annual prize (the 2026 edition was the 12th, with winners announced 4 June 2026 at the EIC Summit). At the time of verification the official page stated: 'The call for applications has been closed on 25 September 2025.' The next call's deadline was not published on the official page and is recorded as unknown.
Three categories. EIC Women Innovators: EUR 100 000 / EUR 70 000 / EUR 50 000. EIC Rising Innovators (under 35): EUR 50 000 / EUR 30 000 / EUR 20 000. EIT Women Leadership Award: EUR 50 000 winner plus runners-up of EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000.
European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), via EISMEA
public · supranational
Deadline: annual_call — Recurring annual prize (the 2026 edition was the 12th, with winners announced 4 June 2026 at the EIC Summit). At the time of verification the official page stated: 'The call for applications has been closed on 25 September 2025.' The next call's deadline was not published on the official page and is recorded as unknown.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Moderate — a form and supporting documents.
Who can apply
- Stage: seed, series_a, growth
- Female founders
- Locally registered entity required
Applicants must be female and apply as an individual, not as a legal entity; must be legally established in an EU Member State, OCT or Horizon Europe associated country; must 'Be the founder or co-founder of the company or organisation'; the company must be 'registered or incorporated at least two years before the call year'. An applicant cannot receive a second EU/Euratom prize for the same activities. Rising Innovators must be under 35 at the start of the call year.
How to apply
- Check the category you fit: EIC Women Innovators, EIC Rising Innovators (under 35 at the start of the call year), or the EIT Women Leadership Award. — link
- Apply as an individual (not as a legal entity) via the category-specific link on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. — link
What you will need
- Application form for the chosen category
- Evidence of founder/co-founder role and of company registration at least two years before the call year
Source. https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-prizes/european-prize-women-innovators-powered-eic-eit_en — checked 2026-08-14
"In the EIC Rising Innovators, three prizes of EUR 50 000, EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications from promising 'Rising Innovators' ... Be the founder or co-founder of the company or organisation"