About the opportunity
The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions is a Horizon Europe prize designed to recognize and celebrate academic and research organizations that are driving institutional change toward gender equality in research and innovation. Managed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA), the prize aims to boost the implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) and support the transformation agenda for universities within the European Research Area (ERA) policy agenda and the European Strategy for Universities.
Funding and benefits
- A €100,000 prize for each winner.
- A trophy.
Who can apply?
- Universities, higher education institutions, and other research performing organisations (public or private).
- Must be established in an EU Member State, a Third Country associated to Horizon Europe, or a country currently holding candidate status for EU accession.
- Applicants can only apply to one of the three prize categories.
- Winners from past editions cannot re-apply to another category.
Required documents
- Gender Equality Plan (GEP) implementation evidence as required by the specific prize category.
- Application submitted via the Funding and Tenders Portal.
When to apply
- Applications for the fourth edition opened on June 16, 2026.
- The deadline for applications is September 29, 2026, at 17:00:00 CET.
- Winners will be revealed in March 2027.
How to apply
- Read the Rules of Contest carefully before submitting an application.
- Submit the application online via the Funding and Tenders Portal.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Universities, higher education institutions, and research-performing organizations based in an EU Member State, Horizon Europe associated country, or an EU candidate country.
- Institutions actively implementing comprehensive Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) to drive institutional change in research and innovation.
What should you think carefully about?
- Applicants are restricted to applying for only one of the three available prize categories.
- Winners from past editions are strictly prohibited from reapplying to another category.
- Submissions must be made through the official Funding and Tenders Portal before the September 29, 2026 deadline.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This award fits academic and research organizations seeking external recognition and financial support for institutional transformation toward gender equality. The €100,000 prize provides valuable resources to further institutional GEP initiatives within the European Research Area.
Our take
Qualifying research organizations and universities with robust GEP implementation evidence should seriously consider applying, while institutions lacking active gender equality plans will find this prize unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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