Women Innovators in the Foundation Industries
A community of professionals and organisations who advocate and champion for the women in innovation in the Foundation Industries. The WINFI vision is to increase the number of women innovators in the Foundation Industries to help us to deliver industry’s 2050 vision.
Innovating inclusion in the Foundation Industries
The foundation industries form the backbone of industrial production and infrastructure development. They provide essential materials and products that are vital to various sectors, including transport, construction, packaging, healthcare and more. The foundation industries have long been innovating to allow them to manufacture materials at a scale and price that economies across the globe could afford.
The Innovate UK Business Connect Materials Team and the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge launched Women Innovators in Foundation Industries (WINFI) on International Women in Engineering Day 2022, bringing together women innovators from across the six foundation industry sectors, alongside organisation leads and partners from Foundation Industries funded projects. The Innovate UK Foundation Industries Challenge Fund has now come to an end, but we are committed to provide ongoing support to address the current gender imbalance in leadership roles and create a supportive talent pipeline.
As we look to the future, the insights of these leaders remind us that accelerating progress requires both bold ideas and the courage to turn them into reality. With the WINFI Award winners leading by example, the sector is not only ready for transformation but equipped to drive real, measurable change.
Accelerating Action: Insights from Award-Winning Women in Foundation Industries
Insights from Women Innovators in Foundation Industries highlight the Accelerate Action theme of this year’s International Women’s Day. From early STEM engagement and open collaboration to harnessing AI, these innovators are not just theorising change – they are driving it.
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How we help
Diversify industrial leadership to adopt new skills and evolve the workforce
Raising the profile of women innovators as thought leaders in Foundation Industries
Supporting businesses to define and implement gender diversity strategy
Our Experts
Related Opportunities
Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26
Opens: 26/11/2025 Closes: 04/02/2026
Women founders or co-founders of UK registered SMEs can apply for a package of support that includes a grant of up to £75,000 and bespoke business support, to further their ambitious growth plans.
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Innovate UK Growth Catalyst – Investor Partnerships Round 2
Opens: 10/12/2025 Closes: 03/02/2026
Grant funding for late-stage R&D projects of up to £2m in size, subject to aligned private investment through Innovate UK’s proven Investor Partnerships funding model.
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Innovate UK Innovation Loans Round 25
Opens: 08/01/2026 Closes: 04/03/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for loans for close to market innovative projects with strong commercial potential. They must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Related News
25/06/2025
Introducing the Women in Innovation Community Forum
We are delighted to officially launch the Women in Innovation Community Forum: a new space for collaboration, open dialogue, and shared insight that will keep women’s perspectives at the heart of Innovate UK’s future work.
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25/10/2022
Meet Women Innovators in the Foundation Industries (WINFI)
On Friday 21st October, the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge held its first webinar as part of its initiative to raise the profile of Women Innovators in the Foundation Industries (WINFI). Read our panel’s insights and watch the recording.
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Related Content
Related programme
Women in Innovation
Enabling brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world, while championing and celebrating gender diversity throughout UK innovation.
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