About
The EIC Women Leadership Programme is a skills enhancement and networking programme for women researchers and entrepreneurs offered by the European Innovation Council.
The programme addresses individual leadership needs while simultaneously fostering peer-to-peer and group learning. It combines virtual and in-person training sessions delivered by high-profile, experienced trainers and mentors, while creating valuable networking opportunities. Interactive learning formats, inspiring case studies, and participatory methods are used throughout to encourage active engagement, reflection, and practical exchanges.
By taking part in the programme, participants gain greater self-awareness as leaders, strengthen their strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities. The programme enhances participants’ communication and influence across diverse stakeholders. Participants also build a strong, trusted network of peers and mentors, increase their visibility and confidence, and leave the programme equipped with practical tools and a clear roadmap to lead at a higher level and drive meaningful impact within their organisations and beyond.
Participants benefit from:
- Leadership and skills development trainings
- Individual business coaching sessions
- Personal mentoring from experienced leaders and entrepreneurs
- Networking with peers, role models, mentors, investors, C-level leaders, market stakeholders across the European innovation ecosystem.
Want to know more? Dive into our curated video playlist:
Who is eligible to participate?
The EIC Women Leadership Programme offers recurring cohorts for researchers and entrepreneurs in the EIC Community. The Entrepreneurial cohort is also open to a limited number of EIT-backed entrepreneurs.
Two types of cohorts are organised:
- Entrepreneurial cohort: The entrepreneurial cohort is aimed at experienced women leaders, including co-founders, women in C-suite positions and second line management, seeking to enhance their leadership skills and broaden their professional networks while scaling innovative ventures.
- Researcher cohort: The researcher cohort supports women researchers who aim to transform their research initiatives into successful businesses while strengthening their leadership and entrepreneurial capabilities.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 cohorts of the EIC Women Leadership Programme are now closed.
If you are interested in joining a future edition, we invite you to express your interest for the 2027 cohorts by completing this form.
The next cohort is expected to start in early 2027, with the official call for applications opening towards the end of 2026. By submitting your expression of interest, you will be among the first to receive updates and be notified when applications open.
What does the programme offer?
Selected participants benefit from a tailored programme following a needs assessment, including interactive training sessions, networking events, personalised mentoring and business coaching.
Trainings
Participants have access to a series of online training sessions focusing on personal leadership, team leadership and company leadership, and are adapted to the needs identified at the beginning of the programme.
The training programme combines interactive live sessions with self-paced learning materials, allowing participants to prepare in advance and continue learning at their own pace.
Sessions are designed to be interactive and practical, including real-life case studies, applied exercises and discussions. Participants also engage in small study groups and peer-learning activities, which encourage exchange of experiences and mutual support throughout the programme.
Networking
Dedicated networking events take place throughout the programme to strengthen participants’ connections within the European innovation ecosystem.
These sessions allow participants to connect with mentors, investors, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives and fellow innovators, while increasing their visibility within the ecosystem.
The programme includes networking sessions designed to:
- Introduce participants and build strong peer connections within the cohort
- Facilitate interactions with mentors and experts
- Connect participants with investors and key stakeholders
These activities foster collaboration, knowledge exchange and long-term professional relationships among participants.
Personal mentoring and business coaching
Participants benefit from individual mentoring and business coaching throughout the programme.
Mentors are selected from the European innovation ecosystem and include CEO-level leaders, experienced entrepreneurs, investors and senior executives. They are matched with participants based on their specific leadership and career challenges.
In addition, participants work with EIC Business Coaches, who provide support on business-related topics such as identifying new opportunities, refining strategies and strengthening market positioning.
Together, mentoring and coaching provide personalised guidance to support participants’ leadership journey and innovation ambitions.
Programme timeline for 2026 Research and Entrepreneurial cohorts
- 19 April 2026 (23:59 CET)Application deadline
- 29 April 2026Confirmation of participation and notification of selected participants
- 11 May 2026Introductory workshop and welcome session (online)
Participants are introduced to the programme structure, mentoring activities and leadership development journey.
- 2 June 2026Kick-off bootcamp
Brussels, Belgium. The programme launches back-to-back with the EIC Summit (3-4 June), bringing together participants, mentors and representatives of the European innovation ecosystem.
- July – October 2026Individual mentoring and coaching sessions
- September – November 2026Trainings and networking sessions
Participants attend:
- Online leadership trainings
- Skills development workshops
- Networking sessions with innovators, investors and ecosystem leaders
- 27 November 2026Final Programme Event, Demo Day and Pitching Session
Discover our impact stories
Check our latest stories featuring alumnae of the EIC Women Leadership Programme to discover our impact:
Alumni group
Participants that have completed the programme are invited to join an exclusive alumni group on LinkedIn, enabling them to stay connected with fellow alumni and expand their professional network. They are invited to Alumni gatherings, and receive relevant updates and unique opportunities for engagement—both within and beyond the programme—such as speaking engagements and pitching opportunities.
Podcast: SheEIC – Empowering, Innovating, and Changing the Business World
The SheEIC podcast, powered by the EIC Women Leadership Programme, is designed to inspire and empower women in tech and innovation. Each episode features accomplished guests, including entrepreneurs, industry experts, and EIC Women Leadership Programme alumni, providing invaluable perspectives on topics relevant to women entrepreneurs. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or an established innovator, this podcast offers practical advice and compelling success stories to help you thrive.
SheEIC #1 - It takes a village: Building a support network as a woman in innovation
SheEIC #2 - Speak volumes: Strategies for clear and impactful communication
SheEIC #3 - From researcher to entrepreneur: Tech transfer from research to a successful business
SheEIC #4 - Funding your dreams: Mastering the art of raising funds and attracting Investors
SheEIC #5 - Decision-making in tech leadership: balancing innovation and risk
Implementing service providers
The EIC Women Leadership Programme is implemented by Venture Connections, specialised service providers supporting programme delivery and participant engagement.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page by choosing the 'EIC Women Leadership Programme' category.
EIC support to women innovators
Support to women innovators is among the cornerstones of the EIC efforts to ensure Europe’s economic resilience and global competitiveness. The wide recognition and traction with high potential startups, especially from underrepresented groups such as women innovators and those from less developed ecosystems, have thus been included among the six strategic goals that the EIC Board has identified for the period of 2021-2027.
EIC initiatives are providing a positive outcome to change the status quo and the gender gap in research and business. 30% of companies supported in the EIC Accelerator in 2024 (42 in total) are women led (female CEO/CTO/CSO) with the overall portfolio featuring 134 women led companies (19%). In addition, 24% of all projects supported under the EIC Pathfinder and 23% of EIC Transition projects are coordinated by women.
The EIC actions to actively promote and support the role of women entrepreneurs and researchers include the prioritisation of women CEOs invited to EIC Accelerator interviews. Apart from the EIC Women Leadership Programme, other dedicated initiatives are Women TechEU, supporting early-stage deep tech start-ups funded and led by women and the European Prize for Women Innovators, an annual prize recognising women from across Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.