RFPs: Women Leadership in Innovation Grant Programme

Deadline: 01-Dec-2026

The Women Leadership in Innovation Grant Programme recognises women founders and co-founders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation within the European Union innovation ecosystem. The HORIZON-EIT Prize for Women Leadership in Innovation offers individual prizes ranging from €20,000 to €50,000, with a total prize fund of €100,000, while aiming to increase awareness of the contribution of women to innovation and create role models for future women innovators. The prize is open to eligible women founders or co-founders of companies or organisations established in an EU Member State, including overseas countries and territories, or a country associated with Horizon Europe. Applicants must legally reside in an eligible country, apply as natural persons, and meet the programme’s organisational, registration, and eligibility requirements. Applicants for the EIT Women Leadership category must also provide proof of their connection to the EIT Community. The Women Leadership in Innovation Grant Programme is designed to recognise women who have demonstrated leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation within the EU innovation ecosystem.

The programme aims to:

The prize is part of the HORIZON-EIT innovation framework and focuses on the contribution of women to Europe’s innovation landscape.

The programme offers prizes ranging from:

The financial award recognises eligible women who have demonstrated significant leadership and innovation through their companies or organisations. The prize is open to women who meet the required founder, residence, organisational, and geographical conditions.

Applicants must:

Eligible locations include:

The applicant’s company or organisation must meet specific establishment requirements.

The company or organisation must:

Self-employment is not accepted as a substitute for the required company or organisation. Applicants should therefore ensure that their organisation meets the registration and incorporation requirements before submitting an application. Applicants applying under the EIT Women Leadership category must demonstrate their connection to the EIT Community. Proof of the applicant’s link to the EIT Community must be provided as required during the application process. Applicants should prepare appropriate supporting documentation to demonstrate this connection. Applicants may be excluded if they do not meet the programme’s eligibility conditions.

Important exclusions include:

Applications must be submitted through the Portal Submission System. Applicants are required to provide the information and documentation requested by the programme.

The application includes:

Applicants must also register in the Participant Register. Additional documents may be requested during the validation process. Applicants should pay attention to the application format and length requirements.

The programme specifies that:

Applicants should avoid exceeding the page limit or leaving mandatory sections incomplete. Applicants should present their leadership and innovation achievements clearly and concisely.

Important areas to cover include:

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Portal Submission System.

Before submitting, applicants should:

Applicants may be asked to provide additional documents during validation. Applicants should keep the following requirements in mind:

Applicants should avoid:

Applicants can make their submissions clearer by focusing on evidence-based achievements.

Useful points to highlight include:

The application should distinguish the applicant’s personal achievements from the general achievements of the company or organisation. Women play an important role in Europe’s innovation ecosystem, but greater visibility of successful women innovators can help encourage broader participation. The HORIZON-EIT Prize for Women Leadership in Innovation is designed to recognise women founders and co-founders while increasing public awareness of their contribution to innovation. By creating visible role models and recognising leadership achievements, the programme aims to inspire more women to pursue innovative ideas, entrepreneurship, and leadership within Europe’s innovation ecosystem. It is a prize programme recognising women founders and co-founders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation within the EU innovation ecosystem. Individual prizes range from €20,000 to €50,000, with a total prize fund of €100,000. Eligible women founders or co-founders who legally reside in an EU Member State, eligible overseas country or territory, or Horizon Europe associated country may apply, subject to the programme requirements. No. Self-employment is not accepted for this prize. The company or organisation must have been registered or incorporated before 1 January 2025. No. Only individual applications are accepted. Applicants must provide proof of their link to the EIT Community as required for the category. Applicants must submit the completed application form, including Parts A and B, mandatory annexes, and a video message describing the applicant and her achievements. Additional proof of eligibility may also be required. Yes. Part B is limited to 15 pages. Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize for the same activities are not eligible. The Women Leadership in Innovation Grant Programme provides recognition and financial prizes of up to €50,000 to eligible women founders and co-founders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation within the European innovation ecosystem. By combining financial recognition with a focus on visibility, role models, and women’s participation in innovation, the HORIZON-EIT Prize aims to highlight the achievements of women innovators and encourage more women to pursue leadership and entrepreneurship. Applicants should carefully verify their eligibility, company registration date, EIT Community connection where applicable, and all Portal Su