Open Call – EIC Women Leadership Programme (4th cohort): Elevating female leadership

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is, in partnership with the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), pleased to announce the launch of the 4th cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme (EIC WLP). Building on the success from the previous editions, this cohort, running from March to May 2024, will offer EIC and EIT female leaders the tools and support to enhance their leadership and entrepreneurship skills. 

The EIC WLP supports, inspires, and empowers female innovators. This cohort will provide the selected leaders with a set of training and networking events, as well as business coaching and mentoring opportunities for career and business development. 

If you would like to boost up your leadership and entrepreneurial skills, apply until 21 January 2024, EOD! 

Got your attention? Check out the testimonials from previous participants below or watch the recording of the last EIC WLP Closing Ceremony here.  

Key components of the programme  

1. Training Sessions: deep diving into a variety of leadership and entrepreneurial topics  

2. Networking Events: expanding your contacts into the business world  

3. Coaching Scheme: addressing your business challenges  

4. Mentoring Scheme: unlocking your personal career development  

Before applying, please check the timeline of the EIC WLP activities below to ensure your availability.  

*Please kindly note that the EIC or EIT will not cover your travel & logistic expenses to attend the in-person event in Brussels. 

Eligibility criteria  

The 4th cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme is dedicated exclusively to female leaders who are in a founding team and/or chief positions (CEOs or other C-suite managers) of companies, established at least 2 years before the call deadline, and awarded or supported under the following EIC or EIT schemes: 

• SME Instrument Phase I and Phase II,  

• EIC Transition, 

• EIC Pathfinder,  

• EIC Accelerator, 

• Seal of Excellence under Horizon Europe,  

• Women TechEU and  

• EIT Programmes (all KICs). 

We are looking forward to welcoming you into our community of female innovators and providing you with the programme services taking your business career into the next level. 

Need help? 

For additional information, please refer to our Helpdesk service (please choose 'EIC Women Leadership Programme' as the subject) or visit our ​​Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 

What our alumni say about EIC WLP? 

Joana Simões Correia, Executive Director and CSO at Exogenus Therapeutics: 

The EIC Women Leadership Programme was all about self-confidence and empowerment. 

Alessandra Balduini, Professor and principal Investigation at SilkFusion: 

The EIC Women Leadership Programme had a great impact on my career. As a scientist, I learnt about business and how to direct my science, my research, in that sense. 

Additional Information about the EIC Women Leadership Programme 

Involvement of women in advanced technology sectors is crucial not only for equitable representation but also to fully harness Europe’s capabilities in science and business. The EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) amplify the impact of EIC investments. With the EIC Women Leadership Program, the EIC aims to level the playing field in scalable businesses and mindsets by unlocking potential and breaking down barriers to success. Established as a pilot in 2021, the WLP has so far provided skills enhancement and networking support to 3 cohorts of more than 180 female researchers and entrepreneurs from the EIC Community and beyond. Besides dedicated trainings, the programme features individual coaching, mentoring and pitching activities as well as different outreach initiatives to raise awareness and showcase women researchers and entrepreneurs as role models.