EIT Manufacturing RIS LEADERS 2024 Call

RIS LEADERS 2024 Call is now open!

RIS LEADERS 2024 Call is now open!

Applications are open until 15th July, 2024, 17:00 CEST

What is “LEADERS – Women Innovators in Manufacturing at EIT Regional Innovation Scheme”?

“LEADERS – Women Innovators in Manufacturing at EIT RIS” is a competition that celebrates the women innovators behind the solutions addressing manufacturing-related challenges.

The Prize is awarded to women innovators from the EIT RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) eligible countries* who have significantly impacted the innovation ecosystem by transforming ideas into new and advanced products and/or services to benefit people and planet. With this prize, EIT Manufacturing seeks to raise awareness of the need for more women innovators in manufacturing and create role models for girls and women everywhere.

In the first round of submissions, up to 60 eligible applicants will receive an online pitch training. After the second round of submissions, six top-ranked applicants will be invited to an awarding ceremony where three winners will be publicly announced and receive prizes in the amount of:

  • 1st: EUR 10.000
  • 2nd: EUR 7.500
  • 3rd: EUR 5.000

Who can Apply?

LEADERS – Women Innovators in Manufacturing at EIT RIS is open to applications from women innovators (i.e. professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, etc.) that are citizens of EIT RIS eligible countries and play a leading role in developing solution fitting one of the  following EIT Manufacturing strategic objectives (SOs), as set out in the Strategic Agenda 2021- 2027:

  • Put people at the center of manufacturing, as for example:
    • Enhance work environment to make manufacturing jobs more attractive, safe, and inclusive.
    • Accelerate digital adoption across the manufacturing sector, enhancing competitiveness through improved efficiency and innovation.
  • Accelerate green manufacturing, as for example:
    • Promote circularity principle by shifting to a servitization model
    • Accelerate Net-Zero emissions principle with a value-chain decarbonization approach.
    • Improve resource efficiency to start a shift towards zero-waste processes.
  • Foster sovereignty and competitiveness, as for example.
    • Long-term industry transformation, with manufacturers developing new business models and revenue streams based on where continuous innovation, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking are the norm.
    • Strengthened collaboration within the European manufacturing ecosystem, especially with RIS countries, enhancing overall resilience and innovation capacity.

* EIT RIS Eligible countries (2021-2024)

  • EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia
  • Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine
  • Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)

RIS LEADERS 2024 Call is now open!

Applications are open until 15th July, 2024, 17:00 CEST

Watch the recording of the RIS Leaders Info Session

Have questions regarding the call? Take a look at the info session that took place on 7 June 2024.

Key Dates

1st phase:

  • Call opening: 14 May 2024, 10:00 AM CEST
  • Call closing: 15 July 2024, 17:00 CEST
  • Call online Info Session: 7 June 2024, 11:00 CEST
  • Eligibility and admissibility check: Until 22 July 2024
  • Online pitch training for eligible applicants: early September 2024

2nd phase

  • Online pitch submission:  by 20 September 2024
  • Evaluation of full proposals: 21 September to 9 October 2024
  • Communication of results: 11  October 2024
  • Standstill period: October 18 – November 18, 2024
  • Awarding ceremony: second half of November 2024, in Budapest – TBC

For any questions, please reach out to: