The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) have jointly launched the 2027 edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators contest, which 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.
There are three prize categories:
- In the EIC Women Innovators category, three prizes of €100 000, €70 000 and €50 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications;
- In the EIC Rising Innovators, three prizes of €50 000, €30 000 and €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 €50 000, and two runners-up are awarded €30 000 and €20 000 respectively.
Eligible applicants can apply to only one category. The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.
The deadline for submitting applications is on 1 December 2026 (17:00 Brussels time).
Further information
Further information, including the eligibility criteria, is included in the Rules of Contest.
There will also be a dedicated information webinar for this contest on 17 September.