Finalists announced for the 2026 European Prize for Women Innovators!

The finalists of the European Prize for Women Innovators - jointly managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) - have been revealed. These women are not only inspiring future generations of innovators but also highlighting the importance of diversity and gender equality in driving Europe’s competitiveness forward.

As the competition reaches its final stage, anticipation builds to see which of the finalists will rise to the top. The winners will be revealed at the EIC Summit in June 2026.

Categories

The competition honours outstanding achievements across three categories:

• EIC Rising Innovators: Open to promising young women under the age of 35, with prizes of €50,000 for the winner and €30,000 and €20,000 for two runners-up.
• EIC Women Innovators: For women founders across the EU and Associated Countries, offering the winner €100,000 and €70,000 and €50,000 for the two runners-up.
• EIT Women Leadership: Focused on members of the EIT Community, this category awards €50,000 to the winner and €30,000 and €20,000 to the runners-up.

Eligible applications are being evaluated on three criteria: breakthrough innovation, where the applicant's company leads disruptive advancements in deep-tech and science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields within the EU or Horizon Europe-associated countries; impact, as the innovation addresses significant challenges with benefits for people and the planet; and inspiration, with the applicant serving as a pivotal leader and role model, empowering women and girls.  

Meet the Finalists

EIC Rising Innovators Category  

• Judit Giró Benet (Spain), founder of The Blue Box, is tackling gaps in breast cancer screening with a simple urine-based test designed to catch cases that traditional screenings often miss. Her approach aims to improve early detection, particularly for women underserved by current methods.
• Carin Lightner (Switzerland), co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Enantios, is modernising how new medicines are developed by introducing faster and more precise ways to analyse complex molecules. Her company is helping pharmaceutical firms cut costs, speed up development and bring safer drugs to market.
• Marta Oliveira (Belgium), co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of ATMOS Space Cargo, is helping reshape the space economy with reusable capsules that bring materials safely back to Earth. The technology opens new opportunities for research and innovation carried out in orbit.

EIC Women Innovators Category  

• Judit Camargo Sanromà (Spain), founder and CEO of Roka Furadada, is addressing the rise in skin cancer while reducing the environmental impact of sun protection products. Her company has developed eco-friendly cosmetic ingredients that deliver stronger UV protection without harming marine ecosystems.
• Elena Heber (Germany), co-founder and Managing Director of HelloBetter is expanding access to mental health care through digital therapies. Under her leadership, the company delivers clinically validated online treatments and is developing new artificial intelligence (AI)-supported tools to help patients manage mental health challenges.
• Katerina Spranger (Ukraine/UK), founder and CEO of Oxford Heartbeat, is using artificial intelligence to make complex surgeries safer. Her company’s technology supports doctors in treating brain aneurysms more accurately, reducing risks for patients and healthcare systems alike.

EIT Women Leadership Category  

• Ella Frances Cullen (Portugal), co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Minespider, is pioneering digital traceability of products across supply chains. Her company's blockchain and AI platform provides digital product and battery passports for supply chain traceability, increasing transparency, sustainability, and compliance.
• Neide Vieira (Portugal), co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of IPLEXMED, is accelerating the diagnosis of infectious diseases through the use of graphene-based biosensors. Her company has created a portable, rapid, and connected diagnostic platform that delivers lab-grade results by harnessing the superior electronic properties of graphene biosensors.
• Stefania Raimondo (Italy), co-founder of Navhetec, is advancing plant-based nanomedicine by extracting particles with biomedical potential from citrus juice. Her company has developed and patented a method that allows the extraction and use of these particles to formulate health products with superior efficacy and novel functionalities.

Background

Managed jointly, since 2023, by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT), the European Prize for Women Innovators underscores the invaluable role of women in driving transformative change and fostering innovation-driven growth in the European Union. The Prize is awarded to women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose groundbreaking innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.

The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury. These women serve as role models, breaking barriers and reshaping the narrative on women’s leadership. This year marks twelve years of honouring exceptional women who have driven innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.

More information 

European Prize for Women Innovators homepage