EIC Women Leadership Programme

About

To support the role of women in innovation and tech, the European Innovation Council (EIC), in partnership with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), offers a skills enhancement and networking programme for women researchers and entrepreneurs, the EIC Women Leadership Programme (WLP).    

The programme is open to women researchers, aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs from the EIC and EIT Communities. Each cohort consists of both virtual and in-person training sessions, led by high-profile experienced trainers who challenge participants’ leadership approaches with inspiring case studies and use participatory approaches to encourage active engagement. Participants benefit from individual business coaching and personal mentoring. Through dedicated networking events, they also engage with peers and inspiring role models.

Want to know more? Dive into our curated video playlist: 

Who is eligible to participate?

The EIC Women Leadership Programme offers recurring cohorts aimed at participants from both EIC and EIT beneficiary groups: 

• Advanced entrepreneurial cohort: Experienced women leaders (co-founders and/or in c-suite positions) seeking to enhance their skills and broaden their professional connections.
• Researcher cohort: Women researchers engaged in research endeavours with ambitions to spearhead the transformation of their research initiatives into successful businesses seeking to enhance their leadership and entrepreneurial skills.  

The upcoming 9th EIC WLP cohort, starting in September 2025 (with an introductory workshop in June), is specifically designed for women leaders who are part of a founding team and/or in a chief position (CEO or other C-suite Manager) of companies established at least 2 years before the call deadline.  

Eligible candidates can apply to open calls launched on the EIC Community (see further details below). 

What does the programme offer?

Participants will benefit from a tailored programme following a needs assessment, including specific training sessions with interactive exercises and discussions, networking events, personalised mentorship, and business-coaching schemes: 

Trainings 

Participants have access to training sessions on topics such as negotiation, pitching, leadership styles, marketing, and public speaking, that address the participants’ needs. The trainings take place during business days in the mornings, once a week, with a duration of 2 hours each. Sessions are led by experts from various industries and are designed to be interactive, offering hands-on exercises and case studies to help participants put their leadership skills into practice. 

Networking  

Dedicated networking events take place throughout the programme to increase the participants’ network and heighten their visibility with key stakeholders in the European innovation ecosystem. During the training sessions, keynote speakers provide testimonials and facilitate networking moments. WLP fosters and promotes the exchange of experiences between its cohort participants and provides speed-dating activities with mentors. 

Personal Mentoring and Business Coaching 

The mentors, ranging from experienced CEOs and investors to serial entrepreneurs, are matched with participants based on career challenges faced by the participant. Participants meet with their mentors on a regular basis to receive support on their career goals and challenges. 

In addition, participants can work with an expert EIC business coach. These experts support participants with business related goals and challenges, such as identifying new business opportunities.   

Alumni Group

Participants of 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. 

Open call: EIC Women Leadership Programme 9th cohort for women leaders

The Application Call for the EIC WLP 9th cohort is now open! Women founders, co-founders, and leaders in C-suite positions can apply by filling in the application form on the EIC Community by Sunday, 11 May EOD.

Apply now!

Frequently asked questions

Find all the answers on the EIC Women Leadership Programme 9^th cohort in the FAQs. 

Upcoming cohorts

Stay tuned for the application details should this not be the right time for your application.

Background information

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.

Implementing partners