European Prize for Women Innovators Launches for 2023

A European Innovation Council/European Institute of Innovation and Technology prize to recognise and reward the work of women who have achieved, and brought to market, outstanding innovations.

First held in 2011, the European Commission provides the European Prize for Women Innovators to reward women who have brought outstanding innovations to market.

While the opportunities created by novel technologies and disruptive innovations have the potential to accelerate the transition to a green and digital economy, Europe risks missing out on these opportunities if women are overlooked as a source of innovation and creative talent. This contest was established to address this imbalance, and offers prizes to women who have made significant impact on the innovation ecosystem.

For 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) are delivering a refreshed version of the prize to recognise a wider community of women innovators, celebrating their achievements and giving them more opportunities. Prizes will be awarded to the most inspiring women entrepreneurs whose ground-breaking innovation is creating a positive impact for people and planet.

A total of nine awards will be made in the following three categories:

• Women Innovators: This category is open to all women founders and co-founders from across the EU and Associated Countries. The winner is awarded €100,000, and two runners-up are awarded €70,000 and €50,000 respectively.
• Rising Innovators: This category is open to promising young innovators under the age of 35. The winner is awarded €50,000, and two runners-up are awarded €30,000 and €20,000 respectively.
• EIT Women Leadership: This category is open to those with a direct link to the EIT Community or one of the existing Knowledge and Innovation Communities. The winner is awarded €50,000, and two runners-up are awarded €30,000 and €20,000 respectively.

The Prize aims to demonstrate the central role women play in creating a new more sustainable Europe, and to inspire people of all ages to join the new vision the EIC and EIT are building of women as tech and climate leaders.

Candidates must be women who have founded or co-founded a company or organisation in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories, OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe. The company or organisation must have been registered at least two years before the application deadline.

Two or more female co-founders of a single company may submit a joint application. In this case, the participants must appoint a ‘lead participant’ to represent them.

Applications for the 2023 round should be submitted by the 27 September 2023 (17:00 Brussels Time) deadline.