2025 European Prize for Women Innovators’ Winners: Recognising Women’s Groundbreaking Achievements in Innovation

Today, the Commission has announced the winners and runners-up of the 11th edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators, jointly managed by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

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.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 European Prize for Women Innovators! For eleven years, we have celebrated exceptional women driving innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Their bold ideas and leadership are breaking barriers and inspiring future generations of innovators. I hope their success encourages more women in Europe and beyond to pursue innovation and leadership.’

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation

The 11th edition of the prize showcases the remarkable achievements of winners and runners-up across three categories: 

1) EIT Women Leadership, for exceptional members of the EIT Community. The winner is awarded €50 000, and two runners-up receive €30 000 and €20 000 respectively.

Winner: Débora Andreia Campelo Campos (Portugal) – Founder and CEO of AgroGrin Tech which developed an innovative and eco-friendly process to transform industrial fruit waste into functional food ingredients. AgroGrin Tech has been supported by EIT Food. AgroGrin Tech has been supported by EIT Food.

Runners-Up:

• Olesja Bondarenko (Estonia) – Co-founder and CEO of Nanordica Medical, which develops nanotechnology-based wound care products that help prevent infections and promote wound healing.  Nanordica has been supported by EIT Health.
• Elizabeth McGloughlin (Ireland) – Co-founder and CEO of Tympany Medical, whose variable angle endoscopy technology improves patient and healthcare system outcomes. Tympany Medical has been supported by EIT Health.

2) Women Innovators, for all women founders and co-founders across the EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe. The winner is awarded €100 000, and the two runners-up receive €70 000 and €50 000 respectively.

Winner: Agnès Arbat (Spain) – Co-founder of Oxolife, a company developing innovative drugs to enhance fertility, with a focus on improving embryo implantation and simplifying infertility treatments. , a company developing innovative drugs to enhance fertility, with a focus on improving embryo implantation and simplifying infertility treatments. 

Runners-Up: 

• Rhona Togher (Ireland) – Co-founder with Eimear O’Carroll of Lios, a company that has developed SoundBounce, a smart acoustic material that offers up to four times more effective noise reduction in less space, while being 40% lighter and four times thinner, with versatile applications across industries like construction, automotive, aerospace, and home appliances.
• Fanny Bardé (France) – Founder of SOLiTHOR, which develops next-generation solid-state batteries using a non-flammable, environmentally-friendly solid electrolyte. develops next-generation solid-state batteries using a non-flammable, environmentally-friendly solid electrolyte.

3) Rising Innovators, for promising young women innovators under the age of 35. The winner is awarded €50 000, and two runners-up receive €30 000 and €20 000 respectively. 

Winner: Camille Bouget (France) – Co-founder of Scienta Lab, an AI-powered platform developed to address the therapeutic needs of immuno-inflammatory diseases. , an AI-powered platform developed to address the therapeutic needs of immuno-inflammatory diseases. 

Runners-Up:   

• Claudine Adeyemi-Adams (United Kingdom) – Founder of Earlybird, an AI-powered platform that enhances employment support by engaging participants in voice-powered conversations, providing advisors with insights and recommendations to deliver more personalised assistance.
• Héloïse Mailhac (France) – Co-founder of STH BIOTECH, a company that has developed SATIVITRO®, an in vitro bio-production platform that enhances the yield and accessibility of rare cannabinoids for pharmaceutical research through controlled bioreactor cultivation.

Background

Managed jointly, since 2023, by the 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.

Over the years, more than 30 women innovators and entrepreneurs have been recognised, with over 100 shortlisted for the final. These women serve as role models, breaking barriers and reshaping the narrative on women’s leadership. This year marks eleven years of honouring exceptional women who have driven innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.

Read the press release