RIS LEADERS 2024 Call is now open!

“LEADERS – Women Innovators in Manufacturing at EIT RIS” is a competition that celebrates the women innovators behind the solutions addressing manufacturing-related challenges.

The Prize is awarded to women innovators from the EIT RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) eligible countries who have significantly impacted the innovation ecosystem by transforming ideas into new and advanced products and/or services to benefit people and planet. With this prize, EIT Manufacturing seeks to raise awareness of the need for more women innovators in manufacturing and create role models for girls and women everywhere.

In the first round of submissions, up to 60 eligible applicants will receive an online pitch training. After the second round of submissions, six top-ranked applicants will be invited to an awarding ceremony where three winners will be publicly announced and receive prizes in the amount of:

• 1st: EUR 10 000
• 2nd: EUR 7 500
• 3rd: EUR 5 000

Who can Apply?

LEADERS – Women Innovators in Manufacturing at EIT RIS is open to applications from women innovators (i.e. professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, etc.) that are citizens of EIT RIS eligible countries and play a leading role in developing solution fitting one of the  following EIT Manufacturing strategic objectives (SOs), as set out in the Strategic Agenda 2021- 2027:

• Put people at the centre of manufacturing:
  • Enhance work environment to make manufacturing jobs more attractive, safe, and inclusive.
  • Accelerate digital adoption across the manufacturing sector, enhancing competitiveness through improved efficiency and innovation.
• Accelerate green manufacturing:
  • Promote circularity principle by shifting to a servitisation model
  • Accelerate Net-Zero emissions principle with a value-chain decarbonization approach.
  • Improve resource efficiency to start a shift towards zero-waste processes.
• Foster sovereignty and competitiveness:
  • Long-term industry transformation, with manufacturers developing new business models and revenue streams based on where continuous innovation, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking are the norm.
  • Strengthened collaboration within the European manufacturing ecosystem, especially with RIS countries, enhancing overall resilience and innovation capacity.