Overview
The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions is a recognition prize offered under the Horizon Europe initiative, specifically targeting organizations that have recently implemented their first Gender Equality Plan (GEP). Eligibility extends to universities, higher education institutions, and research-performing organizations—both public and private—located in EU Member States or associated Third Countries, excluding individuals and SMEs.
This prize aims to promote gender equality in academic and research sectors by rewarding institutions that have demonstrated progress in implementing gender equality policies. Winners from three award categories—Sustainable Gender Equality Champions, Newcomer Gender Equality Champions, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions—will each receive €100,000, totaling €400,000 allocated from both 2024 and 2025 budgets.
The application process involves a single-stage open call with a submission deadline set for June 18, 2025. There is no requirement for co-funding, and the nature of support includes both monetary and recognition components, as winners will receive a trophy along with the prize money.
The targeted project stage is demonstration or validation, recognizing organizations with proven achievements in gender equality. The application requires a completed submission, which may also include supplementary documentation or a short video message detailing the achievements related to the chosen prize category, primarily for communication purposes.
The prize represents a strategic effort to foster a community of champions for gender equality in Europe, with expected outcomes including increased public awareness and strengthened inclusiveness in the European Research Area. All details regarding eligibility, application requirements, and evaluation criteria are specified in the Rules of Contest associated with this opportunity.
This prize aims to promote gender equality in academic and research sectors by rewarding institutions that have demonstrated progress in implementing gender equality policies. Winners from three award categories—Sustainable Gender Equality Champions, Newcomer Gender Equality Champions, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions—will each receive €100,000, totaling €400,000 allocated from both 2024 and 2025 budgets.
The application process involves a single-stage open call with a submission deadline set for June 18, 2025. There is no requirement for co-funding, and the nature of support includes both monetary and recognition components, as winners will receive a trophy along with the prize money.
The targeted project stage is demonstration or validation, recognizing organizations with proven achievements in gender equality. The application requires a completed submission, which may also include supplementary documentation or a short video message detailing the achievements related to the chosen prize category, primarily for communication purposes.
The prize represents a strategic effort to foster a community of champions for gender equality in Europe, with expected outcomes including increased public awareness and strengthened inclusiveness in the European Research Area. All details regarding eligibility, application requirements, and evaluation criteria are specified in the Rules of Contest associated with this opportunity.
Detail
The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions is a recognition prize scheme designed to boost and complement the requirement for higher education establishments, research organizations, and public bodies applying to Horizon Europe to have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place. It also serves as a tool for advancing inclusive gender equality plans and policies within the framework of the new European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda. This award supports the transformation agenda for universities outlined in the new ERA, aligning with the European Education Area (EEA), the European Higher Education Area (EHEA, Bologna process), and the Communication on a European Strategy for Universities adopted on January 18, 2022.
The prize aims to increase public awareness of the importance of addressing gender equality in academic and research organizations through institutional change. It incentivizes a high degree of commitment to implementing inclusive GEPs and fosters a community of champions to inspire other organizations to become gender equality leaders. The expected outcomes include enabling the development of a European community of academic and research champions in institutional transformation towards inclusive gender equality and strengthening the inclusiveness and connectivity objectives under the new European Research Area.
Four academic or research organizations will be awarded the prize, with contestants able to apply to one of three categories:
1. Sustainable Gender Equality Champions: Organizations that demonstrate a significant and sustained record of activity and a high level of achievement through the implementation of their GEP(s).
2. Newcomer Gender Equality Champions: Organizations that have recently finalized the implementation of their first GEP and can demonstrate the most progress achieved through its implementation.
3. Inclusive Gender Equality Champions: Organizations that have developed the most innovative inclusive GEP, addressing intersections between gender and at least two other social categories (e.g., racial or ethnic origin, social origin, sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTIQ), or disability), and can demonstrate concrete results obtained through its implementation.
Each prize winner will receive EUR 0.1 million, totaling EUR 0.4 million from the 2024 budget and EUR 0.4 million from the 2025 budget. Contestants can only apply to one of the three prize categories. In addition to the complete application, contestants may be asked for further documents (legal entity validation, bank account validation, ethics review, declaration of honor, etc.) or a short video message on their achievements in the chosen Prize category. This video will be used for communication purposes only.
The general conditions for admissibility, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, indicative timeline, and legal and financial setup are all described in the Rules of Contest for this prize. Specific conditions are also described in the Rules of Contest.
Call documents include the Rules of Contest, application and evaluation forms, and the model grant agreement (MGA). Application form templates are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
The budget for the topic in 2025 is EUR 400,000. The call follows a single-stage submission process. The opening date for submissions is May 7, 2025, and the deadline is June 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.
There are partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics.
To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants must click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. Applicants will be asked to confirm their choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. To access existing draft proposals, applicants can log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.
Applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. The Online Manual provides guidance on the procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation, and grant management.
Additional support resources include:
Research Enquiry Service: For questions about European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs): For guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe.
Enterprise Europe Network: For advice to businesses, especially SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For questions about forgotten passwords, access rights, technical aspects of proposal submission, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk: For assistance on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: For advice on how to tackle standardisation in project proposals.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment: For consulting the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers, employers, and funders of researchers.
Partner Search: To help find a partner organization for the proposal.
In summary, this opportunity is a recognition prize under the Horizon Europe program aimed at promoting gender equality in academic and research organizations. It offers financial rewards to institutions that have demonstrated significant achievements in implementing Gender Equality Plans (GEPs). The prize is divided into three categories: Sustainable, Newcomer, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions, each with specific criteria. The application process is a single-stage submission, and detailed information and support are available through the Funding & Tenders Portal and related resources. The goal is to foster a community of gender equality champions and strengthen inclusiveness within the European Research Area.
The prize aims to increase public awareness of the importance of addressing gender equality in academic and research organizations through institutional change. It incentivizes a high degree of commitment to implementing inclusive GEPs and fosters a community of champions to inspire other organizations to become gender equality leaders. The expected outcomes include enabling the development of a European community of academic and research champions in institutional transformation towards inclusive gender equality and strengthening the inclusiveness and connectivity objectives under the new European Research Area.
Four academic or research organizations will be awarded the prize, with contestants able to apply to one of three categories:
1. Sustainable Gender Equality Champions: Organizations that demonstrate a significant and sustained record of activity and a high level of achievement through the implementation of their GEP(s).
2. Newcomer Gender Equality Champions: Organizations that have recently finalized the implementation of their first GEP and can demonstrate the most progress achieved through its implementation.
3. Inclusive Gender Equality Champions: Organizations that have developed the most innovative inclusive GEP, addressing intersections between gender and at least two other social categories (e.g., racial or ethnic origin, social origin, sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTIQ), or disability), and can demonstrate concrete results obtained through its implementation.
Each prize winner will receive EUR 0.1 million, totaling EUR 0.4 million from the 2024 budget and EUR 0.4 million from the 2025 budget. Contestants can only apply to one of the three prize categories. In addition to the complete application, contestants may be asked for further documents (legal entity validation, bank account validation, ethics review, declaration of honor, etc.) or a short video message on their achievements in the chosen Prize category. This video will be used for communication purposes only.
The general conditions for admissibility, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, indicative timeline, and legal and financial setup are all described in the Rules of Contest for this prize. Specific conditions are also described in the Rules of Contest.
Call documents include the Rules of Contest, application and evaluation forms, and the model grant agreement (MGA). Application form templates are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
The budget for the topic in 2025 is EUR 400,000. The call follows a single-stage submission process. The opening date for submissions is May 7, 2025, and the deadline is June 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.
There are partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics.
To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants must click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. Applicants will be asked to confirm their choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. To access existing draft proposals, applicants can log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.
Applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. The Online Manual provides guidance on the procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation, and grant management.
Additional support resources include:
Research Enquiry Service: For questions about European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs): For guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe.
Enterprise Europe Network: For advice to businesses, especially SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For questions about forgotten passwords, access rights, technical aspects of proposal submission, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk: For assistance on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: For advice on how to tackle standardisation in project proposals.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment: For consulting the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers, employers, and funders of researchers.
Partner Search: To help find a partner organization for the proposal.
In summary, this opportunity is a recognition prize under the Horizon Europe program aimed at promoting gender equality in academic and research organizations. It offers financial rewards to institutions that have demonstrated significant achievements in implementing Gender Equality Plans (GEPs). The prize is divided into three categories: Sustainable, Newcomer, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions, each with specific criteria. The application process is a single-stage submission, and detailed information and support are available through the Funding & Tenders Portal and related resources. The goal is to foster a community of gender equality champions and strengthen inclusiveness within the European Research Area.
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Breakdown
Eligible Applicant Types: Academic or research organisations, higher education establishments, research organisations, and public bodies.
Funding Type: Award/Recognition Prize.
Consortium Requirement: Single.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is described in the Rules of Contest for this prize.
Target Sector: Gender Equality, Research, Education, Social Sciences, European Research Area, Universities.
Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the European Education Area (EEA) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA, Bologna process) are mentioned, implying a focus on European countries participating in these areas. Also, non-EU and non-associated third countries are mentioned in the context of National Contact Points.
Project Stage: The opportunity targets organizations with a demonstrated record of activity in gender equality, ranging from those with sustained achievements to newcomers and those with innovative approaches.
Funding Amount: Each prize winner will receive EUR 0.1 million. A total of EUR 0.4 million is allocated from the 2024 budget and EUR 0.4 million from the 2025 budget.
Application Type: Open call.
Nature of Support: Money.
Application Stages: 1.
Success Rates: Not specified.
Co-funding Requirement: Not specified.
Summary:
The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions is a recognition prize scheme under the Horizon Europe program, designed to boost and complement the requirement for higher education establishments, research organizations, and public bodies to have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place. It aims to promote inclusive gender equality plans and policies within the European Research Area. The prize is also intended to enable the transformation agenda for universities, aligning with the European Education Area and the European Higher Education Area.
The call is structured around three prize categories: Sustainable Gender Equality Champions, Newcomer Gender Equality Champions, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions. Each prize winner will receive EUR 0.1 million, with a total of EUR 0.4 million allocated from the 2024 budget and EUR 0.4 million from the 2025 budget. The call is open for submission with a deadline of June 18, 2025. The application process is single-stage, and applicants must use the application form available in the Submission System. The initiative seeks to increase public awareness of gender equality in academic and research organizations, incentivize commitment to inclusive GEPs, and create a community of champions. The expected outcomes include enabling a European community of gender equality champions and strengthening inclusiveness and connectivity within the European Research Area.
Funding Type: Award/Recognition Prize.
Consortium Requirement: Single.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is described in the Rules of Contest for this prize.
Target Sector: Gender Equality, Research, Education, Social Sciences, European Research Area, Universities.
Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the European Education Area (EEA) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA, Bologna process) are mentioned, implying a focus on European countries participating in these areas. Also, non-EU and non-associated third countries are mentioned in the context of National Contact Points.
Project Stage: The opportunity targets organizations with a demonstrated record of activity in gender equality, ranging from those with sustained achievements to newcomers and those with innovative approaches.
Funding Amount: Each prize winner will receive EUR 0.1 million. A total of EUR 0.4 million is allocated from the 2024 budget and EUR 0.4 million from the 2025 budget.
Application Type: Open call.
Nature of Support: Money.
Application Stages: 1.
Success Rates: Not specified.
Co-funding Requirement: Not specified.
Summary:
The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions is a recognition prize scheme under the Horizon Europe program, designed to boost and complement the requirement for higher education establishments, research organizations, and public bodies to have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place. It aims to promote inclusive gender equality plans and policies within the European Research Area. The prize is also intended to enable the transformation agenda for universities, aligning with the European Education Area and the European Higher Education Area.
The call is structured around three prize categories: Sustainable Gender Equality Champions, Newcomer Gender Equality Champions, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions. Each prize winner will receive EUR 0.1 million, with a total of EUR 0.4 million allocated from the 2024 budget and EUR 0.4 million from the 2025 budget. The call is open for submission with a deadline of June 18, 2025. The application process is single-stage, and applicants must use the application form available in the Submission System. The initiative seeks to increase public awareness of gender equality in academic and research organizations, incentivize commitment to inclusive GEPs, and create a community of champions. The expected outcomes include enabling a European community of gender equality champions and strengthening inclusiveness and connectivity within the European Research Area.
Short Summary
- Impact
- The funding aims to promote and recognize institutions that have implemented Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) and demonstrated measurable progress in gender equality policies within academic and research organizations.
- Applicant
- Applicants should possess expertise in gender equality initiatives, research and innovation, and institutional policy development, particularly in the context of implementing GEPs.
- Developments
- The funding will support activities related to the implementation and demonstration of Gender Equality Plans in academic and research institutions.
- Applicant Type
- This funding is designed for universities, higher education institutions, and research organizations (public or private) based in EU Member States or Third Countries associated with Horizon Europe.
- Consortium Requirement
- The funding is intended for single applicants, not requiring consortia.
- Funding Amount
- Each prize winner will receive a fixed amount of €100,000.
- Countries
- Eligible applicants must be based in EU Member States or Third Countries associated with Horizon Europe, but no specific countries are listed.
- Industry
- The funding targets the academic and research sectors, specifically focusing on gender equality initiatives within the framework of Horizon Europe.