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Posted: Fri 16th Aug 2024
The European Prize for Women Innovators, which celebrates the female entrepreneurs behind European innovations, is open for applications.
Applicable to female founders in the European Union and countries associated to the Horizon Europe funding programme, which includes the UK, the scheme was launched in 2019.
Three winners will be declared in three categories: women innovators, rising innovators and women leadership. They will receive cash prizes of up to €100,000 (£84,164) from a total fund of €420,000 (£357,721).
Iliana Ivanova, European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, said:
"Europe is home to inspiring women innovators and entrepreneurs leading successful and game-changing companies. The European Prize for Women Innovators highlights their skills and ingenuity, casting them as role models.
"This prize helps strengthen gender equality in business and tech, championing women innovation talent and women-led companies."
Applications are open until 4pm BST (5pm CET) on 25 September. Find more details
Information webinar about the European Prize for Women Innovators:
The European Prize for Women Innovators was set up as part of the European Commission's Gender Equality Strategy 2020-25. A background document says:
"Facing fast-paced developing technologies and science, it is crucial to involve women and girls in the design, development and up-take of innovative solutions.
"Achieving gender equality and diversity benefits not only individuals, but also increases the performance of business, research and innovation.
"Nevertheless, women continue to face multiple barriers, in bringing new ideas to the market and raising capital for their companies. This negatively affects the success rate of women-founded businesses and perpetuates the lack of awareness about the systemic nature of gender inequality.
"Hence, women's efforts and contributions to science and innovation should be encouraged and supported."
The UK rejoined Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship science and innovation research and development funding programme, after a two year hiatus due to disagreements resulting from Brexit.
Horizon Europe is a €95.5bn (£82bn) seven year funding scheme that launched in 2020. It provides funding for collaboration between research institutions and innovative businesses in key sectors such as healthcare and artificial intelligence (AI).
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