Rising Innovators category
European Prize for Women Innovators
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
25/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Other
Trusted by
What is the Rising Innovators category Call?
Grant Description
This recognition prize celebrates women entrepreneurs who have developed disruptive innovations, aiming to boost public awareness of their contribution to the European innovation ecosystem, create role models, and inspire more women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology and entrepreneurship.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Enhanced public awareness of the potential, importance and contribution of women to the EU innovation ecosystem.
• Creation of strong role models that inspire more women and girls to pursue careers as innovators, scientists and tech leaders.
• Promotion of a culture within research and innovation organisations and companies that supports and empowers women entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow.
• Recognition of disruptive, game-changing innovations led by women that deliver tangible benefits to people and the planet (social, economic and environmental impact).
• Strengthening of gender-responsive innovation practices and gender balance in access to finance, networks and education across the EU and associated countries.
• Establishment of a high-visibility network of women innovators across Europe, fostering peer support, knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• Amplification of success stories through media and stakeholder engagement, further driving societal and policy-level support for women in innovation.
• Creation of strong role models that inspire more women and girls to pursue careers as innovators, scientists and tech leaders.
• Promotion of a culture within research and innovation organisations and companies that supports and empowers women entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow.
• Recognition of disruptive, game-changing innovations led by women that deliver tangible benefits to people and the planet (social, economic and environmental impact).
• Strengthening of gender-responsive innovation practices and gender balance in access to finance, networks and education across the EU and associated countries.
• Establishment of a high-visibility network of women innovators across Europe, fostering peer support, knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• Amplification of success stories through media and stakeholder engagement, further driving societal and policy-level support for women in innovation.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility and scope criteria:
1. Applicant Profile
• Natural person who identifies as a woman (cis or legally defined transgender).
• Legal resident of an EU Member State (including OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe.
• Founder or co-founder of a company or organisation registered or incorporated at least two years before 1 January 2023 in an EU Member State (including OCTs) or Horizon-associated country.
• Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize for the same activities are ineligible.
• Only one application per individual; no joint or group applications allowed.
2. Prize Categories
• Rising Innovators: under 35 years old (born on or after 1 January 1990); proof of age required.
• Women Innovators: no age limit.
• EIT Women Leadership: direct link to the EIT Community or an EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (support certificate or diploma required).
3. Organizational Requirements
• Company or organisation must be a separate legal entity (or equivalent) with capacity to undertake legal obligations and must provide guarantees equivalent to legal persons when required.
4. Compliance and Exclusion
• Applicants subject to EU restrictive measures (sanctions) or unresolved EU conditionality measures (e.g., Hungarian public interest trusts) are ineligible.
• Applicants must not be in bankruptcy, under judicial administration, or convicted of professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labour or human trafficking.
• Applicants must not have misrepresented information, failed to supply required data, or been involved in call preparation in a way that distorts competition.
5. Administrative
• Register in the Participant Register and obtain REA validation before the deadline.
• Submit complete application (Parts A & B and annexes) via the Portal before 25 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Part B limited to 15 pages; any pages beyond will not be considered.
1. Applicant Profile
• Natural person who identifies as a woman (cis or legally defined transgender).
• Legal resident of an EU Member State (including OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe.
• Founder or co-founder of a company or organisation registered or incorporated at least two years before 1 January 2023 in an EU Member State (including OCTs) or Horizon-associated country.
• Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize for the same activities are ineligible.
• Only one application per individual; no joint or group applications allowed.
2. Prize Categories
• Rising Innovators: under 35 years old (born on or after 1 January 1990); proof of age required.
• Women Innovators: no age limit.
• EIT Women Leadership: direct link to the EIT Community or an EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (support certificate or diploma required).
3. Organizational Requirements
• Company or organisation must be a separate legal entity (or equivalent) with capacity to undertake legal obligations and must provide guarantees equivalent to legal persons when required.
4. Compliance and Exclusion
• Applicants subject to EU restrictive measures (sanctions) or unresolved EU conditionality measures (e.g., Hungarian public interest trusts) are ineligible.
• Applicants must not be in bankruptcy, under judicial administration, or convicted of professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labour or human trafficking.
• Applicants must not have misrepresented information, failed to supply required data, or been involved in call preparation in a way that distorts competition.
5. Administrative
• Register in the Participant Register and obtain REA validation before the deadline.
• Submit complete application (Parts A & B and annexes) via the Portal before 25 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Part B limited to 15 pages; any pages beyond will not be considered.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
1. Admissibility and Format
• Electronic submission only; no paper submissions.
• Use Portal Submission System forms exclusively; topic-page documents are for information only.
• Applications must be readable, accessible, printable; check layout carefully.
2. Annexes and Supporting Documents
• Video message: ≤90 seconds, ≤100 MB, uploaded as .zip.
• Proof of age for Rising Innovators.
• Proof of legal residence, founding/co-founding status, company incorporation date, and EIT link (for EIT category) upon request.
3. Exclusion and Conditionality
• Entities or individuals under EU restrictive or conditionality measures are barred from participation and prize.
• Entities without legal personality may participate only if their representatives can legally bind them and offer equivalent financial guarantees.
4. Communication and Visibility
• Winners must acknowledge EU funding in all communications, display the EU emblem (unmodified, equally prominent when alongside other logos) and include the prescribed disclaimer in local languages.
• No exclusive right to use the emblem; no additional visual identities to highlight EU support.
5. Intellectual Property and Use of Materials
• Winners retain ownership of results; the awarding authority may use non-sensitive information and materials (e.g., photos, videos) for dissemination and publicity.
6. Audits, Controls and Enforcement
• The awarding authority, European Commission, OLAF, EPPO and ECA may conduct checks, audits and investigations.
• Prize may be withdrawn and payments recovered if false information, fraud, ineligibility or serious breach of contest rules is discovered.
• Electronic submission only; no paper submissions.
• Use Portal Submission System forms exclusively; topic-page documents are for information only.
• Applications must be readable, accessible, printable; check layout carefully.
2. Annexes and Supporting Documents
• Video message: ≤90 seconds, ≤100 MB, uploaded as .zip.
• Proof of age for Rising Innovators.
• Proof of legal residence, founding/co-founding status, company incorporation date, and EIT link (for EIT category) upon request.
3. Exclusion and Conditionality
• Entities or individuals under EU restrictive or conditionality measures are barred from participation and prize.
• Entities without legal personality may participate only if their representatives can legally bind them and offer equivalent financial guarantees.
4. Communication and Visibility
• Winners must acknowledge EU funding in all communications, display the EU emblem (unmodified, equally prominent when alongside other logos) and include the prescribed disclaimer in local languages.
• No exclusive right to use the emblem; no additional visual identities to highlight EU support.
5. Intellectual Property and Use of Materials
• Winners retain ownership of results; the awarding authority may use non-sensitive information and materials (e.g., photos, videos) for dissemination and publicity.
6. Audits, Controls and Enforcement
• The awarding authority, European Commission, OLAF, EPPO and ECA may conduct checks, audits and investigations.
• Prize may be withdrawn and payments recovered if false information, fraud, ineligibility or serious breach of contest rules is discovered.
Important dates
Open from: 17/06/2025
Deadline:25/09/2025
Application period has ended
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