The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions was created under Horizon Europe to recognise the results achieved by academic and research organisations in the implementation of gender equality plans (GEPs). GEPs is an eligibility criterion for all public bodies, higher education institutions and research organisations from EU Member States and associated countries wishing to participate in Horizon Europe. The eligibility criterion was introduced for calls with deadlines in 2022 and onwards.

The award is open to universities, higher education institutions, and other research performing organisations (public or private), established in an EU Member State or a non-EU country associated to Horizon Europe.

There are three categories: Sustainable, Newcomer and Inclusive. Deadline to apply is 16 October 17:00 CET. The evaluation is expected to be finalized by March 2025. Each winner will receive a €100,000 prize: one in the sustainable and inclusive categories and two in newcomer category.

Interested to apply for this recognition prize? Find out more about the general and specific conditions via the call topic pages on the European Commission Funding and Tenders Portal:  

• HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-GENDER-Prize-01 Sustainable Gender Equality Champions
• HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-GENDER-Prize-02 Newcomer Gender Equality Champions
• HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-GENDER-Prize-03 Inclusive Gender Equality Champions

More information on the aims, categories and application process is also available on the DG R&I EU Award for Gender Equality Champions page.

To find out more about the impact of gender equality plans across the European Research Area consult this factsheet and seven policy briefs which have been published ahead of the publication of the main report on the topic.