The Nine Finalists for the 2026 European Prize for Women Innovators Have Been Announced

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

As the competition enters its final stage, anticipation is building to see which finalists will receive the top awards. The winners will be announced at the EIC Summit in June 2026.

Categories

The finalists are competing in three categories:  

• EIC Rising Innovators: For promising young women innovators under the age of 35. The winner will receive €50 000, and two runners-up will receive €30 000 and €20 000, respectively.  
• EIC Women Innovators: Open to women founders and co-founders across the EU and Associated Countries. The winner will receive €100 000, and two runners-up will receive €70 000 and €50 000, respectively.
• EIT Women Leadership: For exceptional members of the EIT Community. The winner will receive €50 000, and two runners-up will receive €30 000 and €20 000, respectively.  

Eligible applications are evaluated against three criteria: breakthrough innovation, where the applicant’s company drives disruptive advancements in deep-tech and science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields within the EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries; impact, where the innovation addresses major societal challenges with tangible benefits for people and the planet; and inspiration, where the applicant demonstrates leadership and serves as a role model for women and girls.  

Meet the Finalists

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.

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.

Recognising Women Driving Europe’s Innovation

Since 2023, the European Prize for Women Innovators has been jointly managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT). The Prize highlights the vital contribution of women to transformative innovation and sustainable growth across the European Union.

It honours women from the EU and countries associated with Horizon Europe whose breakthrough innovations are delivering measurable benefits for people, society and the planet.

Twelve Years of Celebrating Excellence

The winners are selected by an independent expert jury. Now in its twelfth year, the Prize has become a flagship initiative recognising outstanding women entrepreneurs and innovators across Europe, while reinforcing the importance of inclusive leadership in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.

Learn more on the European Prize for Women Innovators homepage