European Prize for Women Innovators 2026 awarded

At the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit on 4 June 2026 in Brussels, the EC has announced the winners of the European Prize for Women Innovators 2026, jointly managed by the EIC and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the EIT. The awards recognise the achievements of women entrepreneurs whose innovations are driving progress and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. For the information on the first two categotires (EIC Women Innovators and EIC Rising Innovators), go to the EIC web.

EIT Women Leadership 2026

The EIT Women Leadership category recognises exceptional members of the EIT Community. The winner receives €50 000, while the two runners-up receive €30 000 and €20 000 respectively.

Winner: Ella Frances Cullen (Portugal), co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Minespider, revolutionising supply chain transparency through a blockchain- and AI-powered platform that delivers digital product and battery passports while promoting sustainability and compliance.

Second place: Stefania Raimondo (Italy), co-founder of Navhetec, advancing plant-based nanomedicine by extracting bioactive particles from citrus juice to develop high-efficacy health products with novel functionalities.

Third place: Neide Vieira (Portugal), co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of IPLEXMED, accelerating the diagnosis of infectious diseases through graphene-based biosensors that enable portable, rapid and lab-grade testing.

Read the EIT News here.