The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed each year on 11 February, serves as a reminder not only of the critical role women and girls play in science and technology communities but also of the urgency of closing a persisting gender gap throughout the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. As we celebrate the 2025 edition, we are spotlighting the recent achievements of Irina Kavounovski, Ana Teresa Maia, Jintin Frank and Tina Černič – four exceptional EIC innovators benefiting from the EIC Women Leadership Programme (EIC WLP).
The diverse EIC-backed women innovators’ backgrounds and impacts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics well exemplify how diversity in research enhances fresh perspectives, talent and creativity, contributing to shape the future of science and innovation.
Irina Kavounovski - Chief Executive Officer at Vigor Medical Technologies LTD
Irina’s passion for disruptive solutions has recently earned her a place as a semi-finalist for the 2025 European Prize for Women Innovators, a recognition powered by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) honouring women whose innovations contribute to transformative change across Europe and Horizon Europe countries.
Irina’s commitment to creating solutions that positively impact both society and the environment has previously led her company – Vigor Medical Technologies LTD – to benefit from the EIC Accelerator grant, with the C-LANT Drainage Port project, tackling the unmet need of treating any type of chest trauma or postoperative drainage following major thoracic and abdominal procedures.
Ana Teresa Maia - CEO & Co-Founder at expressTEC
expressPIK, the WomenTech EU project coordinated by Ana Teresa’s company – expressTEC – has been developing an innovative solution for the treatment of cases of breast cancer aimed at testing the expression of mutations and correctly identifying the patients who will benefit from treatment.
Ana Teresa Maia’s leadership in advancing healthcare technologies and her dedication to transforming the way we approach medical care through innovation recently conducted expressTEC to being selected as one of the 12 winning startups in the Dengun Founders Program, a global initiative that recognising innovative diagnostic solutions.
Jintin Frank - CEO at Engineering Minds Munich
The SMC (Sales & Marketing Campaign) WomenTechEU project is responding to the increasing demand for higher-performing satellites, pioneering efficient parallel and serial data handling while maintaining low power consumption.
Jintin Frank is the CEO of the company leading the project and a pioneering innovator in the space technology industry, specializing in thermal systems for space missions.
As a major contribution to her company’s success, she recently played a major role in the successful launch of the HIVE payload – recently deployed to sun-synchronous orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rideshare mission. The Heater Control Unit, developed by her team, ensures precise temperature regulation for the payload platform, a key component in delivering vital data for agriculture, urban planning, and industrial efficiency. Jintin’s work exemplifies the intersection of space technology and practical applications that benefit global industries.nostic solutions.
Tina Černič - Process Development Engineer at ReCatalyst
The ENABLER Transition project – coordinated by ReCatalyst – is tackling one of the most pressing issues in clean energy: the production of affordable and efficient platinum-alloy catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells needed to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to zero.
Tina’s role as a process development engineer in the research and development team is that of contributing directly to the scaling and commercialisation of catalyst technology. In this context, the Slovenian start-up recently achieved an important commercial milestone by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with an undisclosed Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) producer, showcasing the commercial potential of ReCatalyst’s next-generation PEM fuel cell platinum-alloy catalysts and thus, the significance of the company’s technical development achievements.
About the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Supporting women innovators is integral to the EIC's strategic goals for 2021-2027, aimed at enhancing Europe’s economic competitiveness. The EIC has allocated significant resources to women-led companies, demonstrating a commitment to closing the gender gap in research and business. Initiatives like the EIC Women Leadership Programme and Women TechEU are crucial in driving deep-tech innovation and empowering women across Europe.
If you have any questions, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page by choosing the 'EIC Women Leadership Programme' category, or visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ).
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.