The consortium selected under this call is expected to organise the Women TechEU scheme, covering the following activities:

• Ensure the sound design, organisation, and management of the Women TechEU scheme, ensuring continuity of the scheme as implemented by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency in 2021 and 2022;
• Ensure smooth connection with the EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) for the mentoring and coaching support activities to selected applicants;
• Communicate and promote the scheme in order to secure quality applications;
• Organise landmark events, building a network of Women TechEU grantees, and help them to connect with the overall EIC community;
• Promote cooperation and networking activities among the community of women entrepreneurs in the deep tech field;
• Ensure proper geographical distribution and technological areas to be covered by the scheme;
• Report on the implementation of the scheme (key data on applications, start-ups funded, demographics of end-beneficiaries of the scheme, etc.) to European Commission services.

The applicants should consider a project duration of two (2) years and support provided by the consortium to eligible third parties under this initiative must be made up of the following components:

• Financial support to each selected company as an individual grant of EUR 75 000 supporting activities such as evaluating and refining products/services, design, user experience, upgrading the business model, updating the business plan and growth strategy, finding partners and investors, market validation, etc.;
• The possibility to participate in dedicated activities organised by InvestEU, the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), and other relevant networks;
• Please note that mentoring and coaching will be provided by the EIC BAS, under the ‘Women Leadership Programme’, which includes dedicated networking and pitching events funded under a separate EIC budget.

A main activity of the consortium will be to run calls for proposals (at least one (1) per calendar year, the consideration of multiple cut-off dates is encouraged), organise the evaluation process, and administer the grants. Beyond providing funding to women-led deep tech start-ups, proposals under this topic should include a sound promotion and communication strategy of the programme (especially in underrepresented Member States), clearly brand the scheme as an EU initiative, including but not limited to, through information and dissemination events, press and outreach events, or roadshows.