Four Spanish women among the semi-finalists for the 2026 European Prize for Women Innovators

The European Commission has unveiled  the semi-finalists for the 2026 European Prize for Women Innovators, celebrating  outstanding women entrepreneurs who are driving innovation across Europe.

Selected by an independent jury of innovation experts, the semi-finalists reflect the diversity and strength of Europe’s innovation ecosystem, addressing major societal and economic challenges.

The winners will be announced at the European Innovation Council Summit in June 2026.

The competition includes three categories: the EIC Women Innovators Prize, open to women entrepreneurs who have founded a successful company in an EU Member State or an Associated Country; the EIC Rising Innovators Prize, for outstanding innovators under 35; and the EIT Women Leadership Prize, recognising exceptional women from the EIT Community.

Beyond recognition, the prize aims to inspire the next generation of women to turn innovative ideas into market-ready solutions.

Spain has four representatives among the semifinalists.

In the Rising Innovators category:

• Judit Giró Benet (Spain), founder of The Blue Box, is tackling gaps in breast cancer screening with a simple urine-based test designed to catch cases that traditional screenings often miss. Her approach aims to improve early detection, particularly for women underserved by current methods.
• Montserrat Vilarrubí Porta (Spain), co-founder and COO of UniSCool, is addressing one of tech’s biggest challenges: overheating electronics. Her company’s cooling solution boosts performance while using less energy, supporting the next generation of computing and clean technologies.

In the Women Innovators category:

• Judit Camargo Sanromà (Spain), founder and CEO of Roka Furadada, is addressing the rise in skin cancer while reducing the environmental impact of sun protection products. Her company has developed eco-friendly cosmetic ingredients that deliver stronger UV protection without harming marine ecosystems.
• Susana Sanchez (Spain), CSO and co-founder of Moa Food Tech, is turning food by-products into sustainable ingredients. Her work helps reduce waste while creating new solutions for the food industry, supporting a more circular and resilient food system. 

The European Prize for Women Innovators is a flagship Horizon Europe initiative supporting the European Innovation Agenda’s objective of strengthening inclusiveness and excellence in innovation. The prize is jointly presented by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) By joining forces, the EIC and the EIT are expanding the visibility of women innovators across Europe, increasing opportunities and showcasing a broader range of role models.