The Open Horizons project, funded under the European Innovation Ecosystems programme (Horizon Europe), attracted a diverse range of innovative solutions targeting key areas such as AI, green tech, IoT, energy and sustainability, agri-tech, cybersecurity, blockchain, next-generation internet, and the textile industry. This initial wave of applications demonstrates the energy and diversity of Europe’s innovation scene, as well as the determination of women founders to lead the way.
The top 10 countries with the highest number of submissions were the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Poland, France, Greece, Italy, and Romania.
Selection process underway
A selection process is currently underway, with 11 women-led digital and deep-tech start-ups set to be chosen to receive €10 000 in support, along with a four-week acceleration program that includes mentoring and technical guidance.
Of these, five will be selected to advance to the piloting stage, where they will have the opportunity to develop their solutions in real-world corporate ecosystems and receive up to an additional €45 000 in funding.
A new approach to bridging the funding gap
The Open Horizons project is introducing a novel approach to addressing the funding and corporate networking gaps faced by women-led European start-ups in deep tech and digital. Despite generating 10% more revenue over five years, women receive less funding than their male counterparts when raising capital. While the European Commission has launched initiatives to address this disparity, the corporate sector has been overlooked – until now. Open Horizons will launch a “paid-pilot” program to fund pilot projects, create growth opportunities, and secure follow-on agreements with corporates, fostering a synergistic ecosystem in Europe that complements and collaborates with key European programs.
Don’t miss your chance
With two more open calls scheduled, interested parties are encouraged to join the Open Horizons community by subscribing to the project’s newsletter at https://www.openhorizonsproject.eu/contact/.
More information
Open Horizons project’s website