Record number of applications for the EU Prize for Women Innovators 2021

The eighth edition of the EU Prize for Women Innovators closed on 30 June 2021 with a record number of applications. A total of 264 submissions arrived from women founders across Europe and Horizon Europe associated countries. The competition is now administered under the European Innovation Council which has incorporated the prize into its portfolio of recognitions and support actions.

What the numbers say

The 2021 total of 264 applications marks a clear rise compared with recent editions. Organisers reported representation from 35 countries. Spain led the field with 36 applications. Forty four applications were submitted by candidates from associated countries including two from Tunisia and, for the first time, entries from Bosnia and Herzegovina. A set of 30 applications came from so called widening countries, a grouping that the Commission uses to target regions with lower historical participation in EU research and innovation funding.

Who applied and when winners will be chosen

Applicants represent a cross section of early and scaling-stage companies. The projects cover health technologies, green technologies, 5G related ventures, fintech and other innovation areas. Eligible applications will be evaluated from July through October. A final shortlist is scheduled for publication in October and the winners will be announced during the European Innovation Council Summit in November.

Prize structure and management

The prize was first launched in 2011 to increase visibility for female entrepreneurs and create role models. The scheme is managed by the European Innovation Council together with the Executive Agency EISMEA. Winners are selected by an independent expert jury. Traditionally the award has included three main prizes and a Rising Innovator award for younger founders.

New support programme launched alongside the prize

In parallel with the prize announcement the European Commission launched Women TechEU. The scheme is described as a new support action targeted at women-led deep tech startups offering coaching, mentoring and targeted funding to help translate technology into scalable businesses. The announcement positions Women TechEU as part of a broader push to tackle the persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship.

Context and critical perspective

The Commission frames these activities as part of a drive to build a fair and sustainable recovery and a Union of Equality. Gender equality in research and innovation is a stated policy priority. The prize and the Women TechEU support action are intended to reduce barriers to women entrepreneurship and create role models for women and girls.

Record application counts are encouraging but should not be conflated with systemic change. Higher submission numbers do not automatically translate into more funded female-founded scaleups. Historically, European startup funding remains concentrated in a small set of countries and later stage investment is less evenly distributed. Participation from widening countries at 30 applicants out of 264 represents modest progress but still signals an uneven innovation geography. Similarly the presence of first-time entries from countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina is noteworthy but does not by itself demonstrate durable ecosystem capacity.

Prizes and coaching can raise visibility and provide early resources. However they are only one element of the pipeline needed to reach scale. Meaningful change requires follow-through on access to growth capital, investor networks, procurement opportunities and regulatory support. The European Innovation Council has greater capacity than earlier managers to connect winners to acceleration services and investment but conversion rates from prize winners to high growth companies will be the true test of impact.

Dedication and notable past winner

The 2021 edition was dedicated to the memory of Dr Shimrit Perkol-Finkel. Dr Perkol-Finkel was a marine biologist and entrepreneur who won the EU Prize for Women Innovators in 2019. Her company developed sustainable concrete solutions aimed at restoring and protecting marine ecosystems. The dedication highlights how the prize also seeks to celebrate innovations with environmental and social impact.

How the prize fits into EU innovation policy

The prize sits within the European Commission’s broader effort to boost innovation through Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Council. The EIC aims to support breakthrough technologies and scaleups through a mix of grants, investments and business acceleration services. Visibility instruments such as the Women Innovators prize form part of a broader portfolio that includes funding, coaching and the EIC Fund which co-invests with private capital.

Practical information and next steps

Eligible applications will continue through staged evaluation between July and October. A shortlist will be published in October and winners will be announced at the EIC Summit in November. Applicants and observers should track published evaluation results and subsequent follow-up reporting from the EIC on winners’ progress to assess whether prizes translate into longer term business growth and investment.

For applicants interested in related support, the Commission has launched Women TechEU to provide mentoring and targeted funding to women-led deep tech startups. The prize is managed by the European Innovation Council and the SMEs Executive Agency and winners are selected by an independent jury.

Why the prize matters and its limitations

The EU Prize for Women Innovators plays a role in raising public visibility for female founders and in offering direct financial support. It can help create role models and inspire more women and girls to pursue entrepreneurship. Yet prizes alone cannot fix systemic barriers such as investor bias, lack of access to follow-on capital, or regional imbalances in innovation infrastructure. A combination of targeted funding, policy adjustments and private sector engagement remains necessary to turn higher application rates into sustained ecosystem change.

Observers and journalists should watch for transparent reporting on winners’ post-award progress and for the EIC to publish metrics that go beyond application counts, such as follow-on funding, job creation, international expansion and participation from traditionally underrepresented regions.