Every year, the European Commission awards the EU Innovative Women Award to reward women who have brought outstanding innovation to the market.

The award recognizes women entrepreneurs who run innovative companies, and aims to inspire the next generation of innovators, and raise awareness of entrepreneurship as an option for women researchers.

There are two categories of awards:
• Innovators - three prizes in the amount of EUR 100,000 are awarded for the three best ranked applications.
• Rising Innovators - three prizes of € 50,000 each for the top three entries for promising Innovators under 35.

Applicants must be women who have established or co-founded their own business which must be registered at least two years before the application deadline. The contestant can be of any nationality, but must reside in an EU Member State or a country linked to Horizon Europe.
A joint application can be submitted by two or more co-founders of one company. In this case, the participants must appoint a 'lead participant' to represent them before the Commission. Participants will be jointly responsible and all must meet all eligibility criteria.
Winners of the Rising Innovator Award must be 35 years of age or younger. Candidates who meet the requirements for both categories can apply in only one.

Applications for 2022 should be submitted by August 18, 2022.

Call document

Official invitation