European Commission Opportunities

The 2026 award has three categories: Sustainable Gender Equality Champions, Newcomer Gender Equality Champions and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions. Organizations may apply to only one category and previous winners cannot re-enter. The Commission states that each winner receives a trophy and a EUR 100,000 prize; the 2026 announcement describes one Sustainable winner, two Newcomer winners and one Inclusive winner. The award is designed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and managed by the European Research Executive Agency.

The programme page covers universities, higher education institutions and other public or private research-performing organizations established in EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe. The European Commission's 2026 launch announcement additionally states that this edition expands eligibility to research and innovation organizations from countries holding EU-candidate status. Applicants should check the 2026 Rules of Contest for the final admissibility and eligibility conditions and may apply to only one award category.