19 Mar 2024
EIC announces winner of European Prize for Women Innovators
On 18 March 2024, the European Commission announced the winners and runners-up of the 10th edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators. The women are inspiring future generations of innovators and highlight the importance of diversity and gender equality in driving Europe's innovation agenda forward.
The 10th edition of the prize showcases the remarkable achievements of winners and runners-up across three categories:
1) Women Innovators prize, awarded to the most talented women innovators from across the EU and Associated Countries. The winner is awarded € 100,000.-, and two runners-up are awarded €70,000.- and €50,000.- respectively; for all women founders and co-founders across the EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe:
The winner is Rana Sanyal (Türkiye), Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of RS Research, which develops smart nanomedicines for targeted chemotherapy. The runners-up are Natalia Tomiyama (Germany), Managing Director and Co-Founder of NÜWIEL, which develops e-trailers that can match the movement of the pedestrian or biker pulling it; and Elena García Armada (Spain), CEO and Co-Founder of Marsi Bionics, which develops paediatric exoskeletons and robotic knees.
2) Rising Innovators prize, for promising young innovators under the age of 35. The winner is awarded €50,000.-, and two runners-up are awarded €30,000.- and €20,000.- respectively.
The winner is María González Manso (Spain), Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of tucuvi, which automates follow-up phone consultations with empathetic artificial intelligence. The runners-up are Sara Correyero Plaza (Spain), CEO and Co-Founder of IENAI SPACE, which develops electric propulsion modules for nanosatellites together with mission optimisation; Bàrbara Oliveira (Ireland), CTO and Co-Founder of Luminate Medical, whose technology helps prevent the side effects of cancer treatment; and Eva Sadoun (France), CEO and Co-Founder of Lita.co, which makes it easier to invest in social enterprises.
3) EIT Women Leadership prize, awarded to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community. The winner is awarded €50,000.-, and two runners-up are awarded €30,000,- and €20,000.- respectively.
The winner is Yuliia Bialetska (Ukraine), Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of S.lab, which develops alternatives to plastic foam packaging. The runners-up are Deniz Ficicioglu (Germany), Managing Director and Co-Founder of BettaF!sh GmbH, which develops seaweed-based alternatives to fish; and Cristina Purtill (Ireland), CEO of Plio Surgical, which developed a magnetic solution to intestinal post-surgery recovery.
The prize is managed jointly by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT). The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.
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