EIC Women Leadership Programme

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.    

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 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: 

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 7th EIC WLP cohort, starting in February 2025, is specifically designed for researchers and entrepreneurs in early-stage ventures. It will serve the needs of researchers, and junior entrepreneurs (2 years or younger start-ups), by helping them validate and grow their early business ideas. It should provide valuable guidance on key business aspects, such as business set up, business model development and validation, access to early financing, etc.  

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

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.   

Participants of the programme are invited to join an exclusive alumni group on the EIC Community Platform, facilitating ongoing communication with 200+ fellow participants. This platform serves as a hub for networking, sharing events, and staying updated on relevant news within the community. 

The Application Call for the 7^th EIC WLP cohort is now open! Prospective participants are encouraged to ​​apply by filling in the application form in the EIC Community Platform by 15th December 2024 (EOD).  

Find all the answers on the EIC Women Leadership Programme 7^th cohort in the FAQs. 

Not ready just yet? Check the timeline for the upcoming cohorts: 

Support to women innovators is among the cornerstones of the EIC efforts to the economic competitiveness of Europe. The wide recognition and traction with high potential startups, especially from underrepresented groups such as women innovators and those from less developed ecosystems, has thus been included among the six strategic goals that the EIC Board has identified the period 2021-2027. 

Initiatives from the European Innovation Council are providing a positive outcome to change the status quo and the gender gap in research and business. EIC supported deep tech innovation and breakthrough technologies indicate that on average almost 25% of the EIC Accelerator funding per call under Horizon Europe was so far dedicated to women-led companies. with the March 2024 cut-offreaching the target of 40%. 

The EIC Women Leadership Programme and the Women TechEU scheme are the main actions that the EIC is taking to support the role of women in deep tech.  

If you have any questions, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page  by choosing the 'EIC Women Leadership Programme' category.