EU Prize for Women Innovators
The opportunities created by new technologies and disruptive innovations promise to achieve the equitable and sustainable recovery that Europe needs. However, if half of the population, which is a source of innovation and creative talent, are overlooked, Europe will be at risk of missing these opportunities.
The EU Prize for Women Innovators aims to reward women entrepreneurs behind game-changing innovations. In doing so, the EU aims to raise awareness of the need for more women innovators and create role models for women and girls everywhere. The prize will be given to the most talented women entrepreneurs from EU Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe who have built a successful company and brought innovation to the market.
“Women Innovators” main category: EUR 300 000
"Rising Innovator" category: EUR 50 000
The European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital)
Cities are faced with most severe societal and sustainability challenges, but do also have the means to develop and apply effective innovative solutions. They are places where ideas, people, public and private actors meet and interact with each other to improve the quality of life of citizens. Also, cities are natural playgrounds where groundbreaking innovation thrives and is nurtured. They provide ground to experiment new technologies and products in a real environment, their interaction with people and their added value.
The European Capital of Innovation Awards is an annual recognition award given to European cities that best support innovation in their communities. The European Capital of Innovation Awards, which will be awarded for the seventh in 2021, will recognize the contribution of cities to developing local innovation ecosystems for the benefit of innovators and for the well-being of their citizens. The awards aim to reward the most innovative city practices within the framework of an advanced, versatile, well-functioning city innovation ecosystem that supports game-changing innovation.
“European Capital of Innovation” category: EUR 1.20 million
“European Rising Innovative City” category: EUR 600 000
The European Innovation Procurement Awards
Public and private procurement represent an untapped potential to stimulate demand for innovation. Innovation procurement will accelerate the transformation of research into innovative solutions targeting social needs and will support innovative companies to commercialize their ideas.
The European Innovation Procurement Awards aim to recognize European public and private buyers in their efforts to promote the supply of innovation and innovative ways of solutions. It also aims to emphasize the importance of close buyer-supplier cooperation in introducing innovative solutions to the market. These awards complement other EIC initiatives aimed at supporting and improving the supply of innovation in the European Union.
Innovation procurement strategy award: EUR 100 000
Facing societal challenges award: EUR 100 000
Procurement leadership award: EUR 100 000
The European Social Innovation Competition
The European Social Innovation Competition aims to promote the potential of social innovation to provide solutions to social challenges and foster sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe. It will directly support ideas best illustrating this rational. It will bring together its citizens, businesses (including start-ups) from a wide range of industries, as well as universities, business and engineering schools, creating new connections, sources of sustainable growth and meaningful business opportunities.
The European Social Innovation Competition prize: EUR 150 000
EIC Community and Business Acceleration Services
The EIC support is not just about financing, and the scope of the EIC Business Acceleration Service (BAS) has been updated with Horizon Europe for the rapid scaling of both the EIC innovation ecosystem and deep technology companies. EIC-supported researchers, innovators or entrepreneurs will have access to tailored support mechanisms to further leverage EIC investments and connect with partners from all over Europe.
All companies and projects supported by EIC programmes (EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator) have access to BAS. Some of the services will also be made available to EIC Accelerator applicants (invited to prepare a full application), to companies receiving the Seal of Excellence as well as to innovators and companies coming from other European or national initiatives that have entered into a specific agreement with the EIC. All of these services will be available through the EIC Community platform or provided through the EIC Fund or partner organizations.
2021 estimated budget: EUR 22.60 million
