European Prize for Women Innovators 2025

The European Prize for Women Innovators is jointly awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Through this collaboration, the EIT and EIC are showcasing a large pool of women innovators, offering more opportunities for trailblazers, and providing inspiring role models for women and girls everywhere.

The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe's most game-changing innovations. The prize awards women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.

• Table of Content
• About European Commission
• European Prize
• Aim and Benefits of European Prize
• Requirements for European Prize Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for European Prize
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

European Prize

Aim and Benefits of European Prize

There are three prize categories:

• In the EIC Women Innovators category, three prizes of EUR 100 000, EUR 70 000 and EUR 50 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications;
• 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’ under the age of 35.
• The EIT Women Leadership Award, awarded to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community. The winner is awarded EUR 50 000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively.

Requirements for European Prize Qualification

All applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria to participate: 

1. The applicant must be a woman (Please remember you must apply as a natural person and not as a legal entity);
2. The applicant must be legally established in an EU Member State, including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe;
3. The applicant must be the founder or co-founder of the company or organisation;
4. The company or organisation must be established in an EU Member State including overseas countries and territories, (OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe, and registered or incorporated at least two years before the call year (before 1 January 2023);
5. Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities. 

Interview date, Process and Venue for European Prize

Eligible applications will be evaluated against 3 award criteria:

1. Breakthrough innovation – the company or organisation founded or co-founded by the applicant is pioneering a breakthrough and disruptive innovation focusing, among others, on deep-tech and Science Technology Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) fields within the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe.   
2. Impact – this innovation addresses a real need or challenge, with significant benefits for people and/or the planet.
3. Inspiration – the applicant is an inspiring leader, who has played a pivotal role in the success of the company or organisation and is a role model empowering other women and girls in realising their full potential.

Check also:
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Please consult the following documents before submitting your application: 

• Rules of contest
• EIC Work Programme 2025 featuring the full European Prize for Women Innovators calls

Please use the links below to apply for the following categories via the Funding and Tenders Portal:

• EIC Women Innovators category
• EIC Rising Innovators category
• EIT Women leadership category

For more details, visit European Prize webpage