EIC Women Leadership Programme

As part of the EIC Business Acceleration Services and with view to support the role of women in innovation and tech , the European Innovation Council (EIC) is pleased to announce the launch of the 6th cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme (EIC WLP) in partnership with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). 

The programme is open to women researchers and entrepreneurs from the EIC Community and EIT Supernovas.  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. 

The EIC Women Leadership Programme’s recurring cohorts target female members among EIC and EIT beneficiaries, separately:

• Women (co)founders and managers (CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, COOs, CCOs, etc.) who want to strengthen their skills and expand their network. 
• Women researchers involved in research projects aspiring to lead the transition of their research into businesses.

The 6th WLP cohort, starting in September 2024, is specifically designed for women entrepreneurs, (co)founders and managers. Three more WLP cohorts will be launched in 2025. 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, with a duration of 2 hours each. Sessions are led by experts from the industry 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 have the opportunity to work with an expert EIC business coach. These experts support participants with business related goals and challenges, such as identifying new business opportunities.   

The Programme’s participants are included into an exclusive alumni group on the EIC Community Platform to maintain active contact with fellow participants, network, share events and relevant news.

The Application Call for the EIC WLP 6th 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 5 August 2024 (EOD). 

Find all the answers on the EIC Women Leadership Programme 6^th cohort in the FAQs. 

The programme is confirmed to continue in 2025. More information on the cohorts and their timing will come soon.

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 almost 25% of the EIC Accelerator funding under Horizon Europe was so far dedicated to women-led companies, with similar EIC average funding per project (€ 5.6 million and €5,8 million, respectively). Since 2021, EIC women-led companies have received €852 million. In addition, 30% of all researchers supported under the EIC Pathfinder are women.

 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.