The European Commission has opened applications for the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions 2026, the Horizon Europe prize dedicated to academic organizations and research who stand out for their commitment to promoting gender equality.
The initiative promotes institutions, universities and research centres that have adopted effective Gender Equality Plans, capable of generating concrete changes in work and research environments, making them more equitable, inclusive and safe.
Four prizes of €100.000 each are planned for 2026, for a total endowment of €400.000. The categories include organizations with consolidated results, those that have recently completed their first Gender Equality Plan, and institutions that promote innovative approaches to inclusion, also considering factors such as ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Public and private bodies, universities, and research organizations based in European Union member states, countries associated with Horizon Europe, and candidate countries are eligible to participate.
Applications will be evaluated based on the impact of the actions implemented, the continuity of results, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to disseminate best practices against discrimination and inequality.
The deadline for applications is September 29, 2026.
For more information, please visit the official website, here