Prize of up to €50,000 for young female founders of innovative companies
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced a funding call aimed at supporting young female entrepreneurs leading innovative enterprises. The initiative offers a prize of up to €50,000 to recognize and empower women innovators whose businesses demonstrate significant market potential.
The award provides up to 100% funding to selected applicants without requiring co-financing. Eligible founders can submit their proposals until the official deadline on December 1, 2026.
What is funded
The grant call provides financial recognition in the form of a prize of up to €50,000 for young women founders of innovative businesses. The funding covers up to 100% of the award amount, offering direct financial support to innovative enterprises.
The initiative focuses on backing high-impact innovations that have already demonstrated proven market impact. The donor has not published a detailed breakdown of eligible cost categories, as the support is granted in the form of a prize.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are female founders or co-founders of innovative companies. At the time of application, candidates must be no older than 35 years of age. The target group includes entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The applicant’s company must be legally registered in an EU Member State or an associated Horizon Europe country, which includes Ukraine. Entities outside these jurisdictions or applicants without an active founding role are not eligible.
Conditions and requirements
To qualify for the prize, applicants must present an innovation with proven market impact. Candidates are required to provide official proof of their age, verifying that they are 35 years old or younger, as well as formal confirmation of their founder or co-founder status within the registered enterprise.
Practical tip. Prepare all administrative proofs well in advance, including official corporate registry documents confirming your ownership share, a detailed CV, and valid identification to verify age criteria.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online in English through the official EU Funding & Tenders portal. Submissions through alternative channels or in other languages are not accepted.
The application package must include a comprehensive description of the innovation and its market impact, confirmation of the founder’s role in the company, the candidate’s CV, and official proof of age. Submissions must be completed before the deadline on December 1, 2026.
Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: eic.ec.europa.eu.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Donor | European Innovation Council (EIC) |
| Budget | Up to €50,000 (up to 100% funding) |
| Deadline | December 1, 2026 |
| Who can apply | Female founders or co-founders aged up to 35, SMEs, start-ups, entrepreneurs |
| Geography | European Union and Horizon Europe countries (including Ukraine) |
| Type of support | Prize / financial award |
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Frequently asked questions
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