Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The Women TechEU Initiative is designed to support early-stage women-led deep-tech startups, addressing gender gap in the tech industry and fostering more diverse startup ecosystem across Europe. The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of women-led companies addressing critical societal challenges. By empowering women entrepreneurs, Women TechEU supports early stage deep-tech companies, paving the way for the participation of women-led start-ups in future EIC calls.
Detailed Call Description
The Women TechEU initiative supports European early-stage deep tech start-ups,registered and established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country for at least six months at the time of the submission, founded or co-founded by women, holding a top management position (chief executive officer (CEO), chief technology officer (CTO), chief scientific officer (CSO), or equivalent). All deep tech domains are eligible, with the emphasis being on overall gender balance and the position held by women in the start-up. This call supports early-stage women-led companies which have not received substantial financial support. The women-led startups must respect the above conditions to be eligible for financial support to third parties under this action.
The consortium should consider a project duration of two (2) years, with a possibilityto extend the grant for another year, subject to achieving the key milestones of the project. The consortium should foresee at least two calls for proposals per calendar year. The consideration of multiple cut-off dates is encouraged. 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 EIC initiative, including but not limited to, through information and dissemination events, press and outreach events, or roadshows.
The consortium should consider a project duration of two (2) years, with a possibility to extend the grant for another year, subject to achieving the key milestones of the project. The consortium should foresee at least two calls for proposals per calendar year. The consideration of multiple cut-off dates is encouraged. 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 EIC initiative, including but not limited to, through information and dissemination events, press and outreach events, or roadshows.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The consortium will provide financial support to the third parties in form of grants.
The consortium must allocate at least 75% of the total proposed budget to financial support to third parties.
The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is €75.000.
The grants aim to finance supporting activities of the selected companies 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.
Thematic Categories
- New Entrepreneurship
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Economically Inactive Women
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
Address: 29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia, P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Person:
Ms. Nedi Kaffa
Scientific Officer
Email: nkaffa@research.org.cy
EU Contact Point
Research Enquiry Service: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/contact/research-enquiry-service_en
EIC Work Programme 2025 – https://eic.ec.europa.eu/document/download/5e1eb75f-e437-477f-9ee9-ef54ff6387fd_en?filename=EIC%20Work%20Programme%202025.pdf