Women Leadership Category
Women Leadership Category supports women innovators through recognition prizes for breakthrough innovations and inspiring leadership that benefit people or the planet and inspire women and girls.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: December 1, 2026, at 17:00 CET (Submission)
Funding Amounts: €100,000 total: three recognition prizes of €50,000, €30,000, and €20,000
Summary: Recognises women innovators whose breakthrough innovations, impact, and leadership benefit people or the planet.
Key Information: Applicants must be women founders or co-founders with a documented direct link to the EIT Community.
Description
The EIT Women Leadership category is a recognition prize within the European Prize for Women Innovators 2027, jointly organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Under Horizon Europe, it celebrates exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community who have transformed ideas into disruptive innovations benefiting people and the planet.
The prize recognises breakthrough innovation, including deep tech and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), alongside positive socioeconomic or environmental impact. It also celebrates inspiring leadership and efforts to advance gender balance and equality in finance, networks, product design, and education. Its goal is to raise awareness of women’s contribution to the EU innovation ecosystem and create role models who inspire women and girls to become innovators.
