2027 European Prize for Women Innovators: Up to €100,000 for Women Entrepreneurs Driving Innovation and Impact

Overview

The 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators is jointly awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). The initiative celebrates women who are transforming bold concepts into sustainable businesses, practical solutions, and tangible economic, social, or environmental value. The competition features three distinct categories and offers financial rewards ranging from €20,000 up to €100,000 alongside international visibility.

Benefits

EIC Women Innovators Category: First prize of €100,000, second prize of €70,000, and third prize of €50,000.
EIC Rising Innovators Category: First prize of €50,000, second prize of €30,000, and third prize of €20,000.
EIT Women Leadership Category: First prize of €50,000, second prize of €30,000, and third prize of €20,000.
Greater professional visibility, European-level recognition, and enhanced exposure to networks consisting of investors, partners, and institutions.

Eligibility

Applicants must be women who have successfully translated innovative concepts into functioning solutions, businesses, or technologies.
For the EIC Rising Innovators category, applicants must be under 35 years old, subject to full contest rules.
For the EIT Women Leadership category, applicants must meet specific membership and participation guidelines connected to the EIT Community.
Participants must satisfy all geographic conditions, formal contest rules, and category-specific criteria before applying.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal. Candidates should identify their appropriate category prior to submission:

Submit via the EIC Women Innovators application portal
Submit via the EIC Rising Innovators application portal
Submit via the EIT Women Leadership application portal

Deadline

The application deadline is 1 December 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Overview

Benefits

EIC Women Innovators Category: First prize of €100,000, second prize of €70,000, and third prize of €50,000.

EIC Rising Innovators Category: First prize of €50,000, second prize of €30,000, and third prize of €20,000.

EIT Women Leadership Category: First prize of €50,000, second prize of €30,000, and third prize of €20,000.

Greater professional visibility, European-level recognition, and enhanced exposure to networks consisting of investors, partners, and institutions.

Eligibility

Applicants must be women who have successfully translated innovative concepts into functioning solutions, businesses, or technologies.

For the EIC Rising Innovators category, applicants must be under 35 years old, subject to full contest rules.

For the EIT Women Leadership category, applicants must meet specific membership and participation guidelines connected to the EIT Community.

Participants must satisfy all geographic conditions, formal contest rules, and category-specific criteria before applying.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal. Candidates should identify their appropriate category prior to submission: