Women entrepreneurs and innovators developing solutions with the potential to transform industries, communities and society have an opportunity to gain major European recognition through the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators.

Jointly awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC), the prestigious prize celebrates women who are turning innovative ideas into successful businesses, practical solutions and measurable societal, economic and environmental impact.

The 2027 edition features three award categories and offers financial prizes of up to €100,000, alongside international visibility and opportunities to showcase an innovation journey to a European audience.

Applications opened on 2 September 2026 and the deadline for submissions is 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET.

What Is the European Prize for Women Innovators?

The European Prize for Women Innovators is an initiative designed to recognise and celebrate women whose entrepreneurial and innovative work is contributing to Europe’s future.

The award focuses on women who have moved beyond simply developing ideas and are using innovation to create tangible value. This can include innovations that generate economic opportunities, address societal challenges, improve people’s lives, strengthen communities, protect the environment or introduce new technologies and business models.

The initiative is jointly awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC).

Its broader purpose is to increase recognition of women in innovation and entrepreneurship while helping to address the gender gap that continues to exist across innovation ecosystems.

According to the organisers, women innovators across Europe are developing solutions in areas ranging from deep technology and digital innovation to health, climate and other fields with significant societal and economic relevance.

Why the 2027 Prize Matters for Women Innovators

Recognition through a major European innovation prize can provide more than a financial award.

For entrepreneurs building innovative businesses, external recognition can help communicate the significance of their work to potential partners, investors, customers, institutions and wider professional networks.

The EIT describes the prize as an opportunity to gain European recognition for the impact of one’s work and to inspire future generations of innovators.

Applicants who receive recognition through the competition can potentially benefit from:

• Greater visibility for their innovation or business.

• Recognition at the European level.

• An opportunity to communicate their entrepreneurial journey.

• Increased exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship networks.

• Recognition of their societal, economic or environmental impact.

• A platform for highlighting women’s contributions to innovation.

• The opportunity to inspire other women and girls to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Significant financial prizes for successful applicants.

The prize therefore combines financial recognition, visibility and the broader recognition of women’s contributions to Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

Click here to apply

2027 European Prize for Women Innovators: Award Categories

The 2027 competition is divided into three categories, each targeting a different group of women innovators and leaders.

1. EIC Women Innovators

The Women Innovators category is intended for women founders and co-founders who have developed innovative businesses and are creating meaningful impact.

This category carries the largest financial awards in the 2027 competition.

Prizes

• First prize: €100,000

• Second prize: €70,000

• Third prize: €50,000

The category is particularly relevant to women who have progressed from developing an innovative concept to establishing or co-founding a business around that innovation.

Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate more than an interesting idea. Their work should show evidence of innovation, entrepreneurship and meaningful impact.

2. EIC Rising Innovators

The Rising Innovators category focuses on younger women who are demonstrating significant promise as innovators.

It provides an opportunity for emerging women innovators to gain recognition while still at an earlier stage of their innovation and entrepreneurial journey.

A central eligibility requirement for this category is that applicants must be under 35 years old, subject to the complete conditions contained in the official contest rules.

Prizes

• First prize: €50,000

• Second prize: €30,000

• Third prize: €20,000

This category is particularly relevant to younger women developing innovative technologies, businesses, research-based solutions or other forms of innovation capable of generating meaningful impact.

3. EIT Women Leadership

The third category is the EIT Women Leadership category.

This category is designed for exceptional women within the EIT Community whose innovation and leadership are making a strong impact.

Unlike the broader Women Innovators and Rising Innovators categories, this award specifically relates to membership and participation within the EIT Community.

Prizes

• First prize: €50,000

• Second prize: €30,000

• Third prize: €20,000

Women considering this category should carefully examine the official rules concerning EIT Community membership and the other eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The prize is particularly relevant to women who are combining innovation, entrepreneurship and measurable impact.

Potential applicants may include women who are:

• Founders of innovative companies.

• Co-founders of innovative companies.

• Entrepreneurs commercialising innovative technologies.

• Women developing digital innovations.

• Women working in deep-tech innovation.

• Women creating solutions in health and healthcare.

• Women developing climate or environmental innovations.

• Women building businesses around research and technology.

• Young women innovators under 35.

• Women within the EIT Community demonstrating exceptional innovation leadership.

The innovation itself does not appear to be restricted to one particular industry. The EIT specifically identifies fields including deep tech, digital innovation, health and climate, while also describing the prize more broadly as recognising innovations delivering tangible results.

This means that applicants should consider not only the sector in which they operate, but also the nature, originality and impact of their innovation.

What Makes an Innovation Relevant to the Prize?

The European Prize for Women Innovators is fundamentally concerned with innovation and impact.

A strong application should therefore be able to communicate the connection between the applicant, her innovation, her business or entrepreneurial activity, and the results generated by that work.

Important dimensions to consider include:

Innovation

What is genuinely new, improved or transformative about the solution?

Applicants should be able to explain the innovative component of their work clearly rather than relying solely on technical terminology.

Entrepreneurship

How has the innovation been translated into a business, organisation, product, service or scalable solution?

For founders and co-founders, the relationship between the innovation and the business should be clear.

Impact

What difference is the innovation making?

Impact may relate to:

• Society.

• The economy.

• The environment.

• Communities.

• Customers or users.

• Industry.

• Public services.

• Quality of life.

• Sustainability.

Leadership

Applicants should also consider the role they personally played in turning an idea or innovation into a functioning solution. The prize is not simply about technological development. It celebrates the women behind innovations and successful businesses.

Visit here for more information about the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators

Innovation With Societal, Economic and Environmental Value

One of the important features of the prize is its emphasis on impact.

The EIT describes the award as recognising women innovators whose work creates value for society, the economy and the planet.

This broad framing means that innovation can have different forms of value.

For example, an innovation could contribute to economic development through a new business model, create employment, improve productivity or open a new market.

Another innovation might have social value by improving access to essential services or addressing a significant community challenge.

An environmental innovation might contribute to climate action, resource efficiency, sustainability or environmental protection.

The important consideration is the demonstrable relationship between the innovation and the impact it produces.

Application Deadline for the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators

The application period for the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators runs from:

Opening date: 2 September 2026

Application deadline: 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET

Applicants should not wait until the final day to begin preparing their submissions. The eligibility rules, supporting information and application requirements should be reviewed carefully before submission.

Important Dates

Applicants should keep the following dates in mind:

Date	Event
2 September 2026	Applications open
17 September 2026, 11:00 CEST	Information session
1 December 2026, 17:00 CET	Application deadline
Second quarter of 2027	Award ceremony

An information session was scheduled for 17 September 2026 at 11:00 CEST, providing prospective applicants with an opportunity to learn more about the prize.

How to Apply for the European Prize for Women Innovators

Applications are submitted through the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal.

Applicants should first determine which of the three categories corresponds to their circumstances:

1. EIC Women Innovators

2. EIC Rising Innovators

3. EIT Women Leadership

The relevant application portal should then be used to submit the application.

The official competition rules should be reviewed carefully before submission because eligibility requirements can differ between categories.

EIC Women Innovators application portal

EIC Rising Innovators application portal

EIT Women Leadership application portal

Review the Official Contest Rules Before Applying

The announcement directs prospective applicants to the official Rules of the Contest.

This is particularly important because the webpage provides a high-level overview of the opportunity, while the formal rules establish the detailed legal and eligibility conditions governing participation.

Applicants should therefore verify:

• Whether they satisfy the geographic eligibility requirements.

• Whether their organisation or company meets the applicable requirements.

• Whether they qualify as a founder or co-founder where required.

• Whether they satisfy the age requirement for the Rising Innovators category.

• Whether they meet any requirements relating to the EIT Community for the EIT Women Leadership category.

• Whether their innovation satisfies the competition’s requirements.

• Whether all required information and supporting materials are provided.

• Whether the application is submitted before the stated deadline.

Official Rules of the Contest (PDF)

Areas of Innovation Highlighted by the Prize

The 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators is not limited to a single technology or industry.

The EIT highlights several areas in which women are creating significant innovations, including:

Deep technology

Deep-tech entrepreneurs developing advanced technological solutions can find particular relevance in this opportunity, especially where their technologies are being translated into practical applications and businesses.

Digital innovation

Women developing digital products, platforms, technologies and services can also fall within the broader innovation landscape recognised by the prize.

Health

Innovations addressing healthcare, health technologies and related challenges are among the areas specifically referenced by the EIT.

Climate and environmental innovation

Solutions addressing climate-related challenges and environmental sustainability also align with the areas highlighted by the organisers.

Other innovative fields

The prize’s stated focus extends beyond these examples. The central consideration is the innovative nature and impact of the applicant’s work.

Why Recognition Matters Beyond the Prize Money

Although the financial awards are substantial, the significance of the European Prize for Women Innovators extends beyond the monetary component.

For an entrepreneur, recognition at European level can become part of the company’s broader institutional and commercial profile.

Recognition can potentially be useful when communicating with:

• Investors.

• Business partners.

• Research institutions.

• Customers.

• Public-sector organisations.

• Innovation networks.

• Other entrepreneurs.

• Media organisations.

• Potential collaborators.

For emerging innovators, recognition can also provide a way of establishing a stronger professional profile within Europe’s wider innovation ecosystem.

The EIT specifically positions the prize as a mechanism for showcasing women who are transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Innovators

Another important objective of the prize is representation.

The initiative seeks not only to recognise current innovators but also to highlight women whose work can encourage future generations to participate in innovation and entrepreneurship.

This is particularly significant in fields where women remain underrepresented.

By highlighting successful women founders, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators, the prize creates visibility around the different pathways through which women can contribute to technological, economic, environmental and social progress.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Opportunity: 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators

• Organisers: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and European Innovation Council (EIC)

• Application opening: 2 September 2026

• Deadline: 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET

• Award ceremony: Second quarter of 2027

• Number of categories: Three

• Categories: Women Innovators, Rising Innovators and EIT Women Leadership

• Highest individual prize: €100,000

• Women Innovators prizes: €100,000, €70,000 and €50,000

• Rising Innovators prizes: €50,000, €30,000 and €20,000

• EIT Women Leadership prizes: €50,000, €30,000 and €20,000

• Rising Innovators age requirement: Under 35, subject to the official rules

• Application platform: European Commission Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal

• Primary focus: Innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and measurable impact

Discover more global women’s innovation programs here

Final Thoughts

The 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators provides a significant European platform for women who are converting innovative ideas into businesses, technologies and solutions with real-world impact.

With three distinct categories, the competition accommodates established women founders, younger emerging innovators and exceptional women leaders within the EIT Community. The financial awards range from €20,000 to €100,000, while the broader opportunity offers recognition and visibility within Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

Women considering applying should first identify the category that corresponds to their circumstances and then carefully examine the official Rules of the Contest. Particular attention should be given to geographic eligibility, age requirements where applicable, founder or co-founder requirements, EIT Community requirements and all application conditions.

Most importantly, prospective applicants should ensure that their application clearly communicates what their innovation is, why it is innovative, what role they played in developing it, how it has been translated into practice, and what measurable value or impact it has created.

With applications closing on 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET, eligible women innovators who intend to participate should prepare and submit their applications before the deadline.