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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Accelerate your company’s growth through innovation

Innovate UK Women in Innovation was launched in 2016 to encourage more women to apply to Innovate UK funding opportunities. Since its inception, the programme has enabled brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world.

Our research into women innovators highlighted access to funding and finance as their biggest barrier to success. They also struggled with the lack of visible role models and inability to reach the right networks.

Over the last nine years, we’ve championed women entrepreneurship and aimed to dismantle barriers to growth, whilst inspiring more women into innovation.

The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards are open to all backgrounds, sectors, regions and innovation areas. We want to support women who are at a critical stage with their business, where an award will enable them to take an important step forward. The funding should help you make a real difference to innovation in the UK including in and beyond your sector or innovation area.

The Women in Innovation programme is a powerful catalyst for change, not just for the brilliant women entrepreneurs it supports, but for the entire UK innovation landscape. By breaking down barriers and amplifying diverse voices, Innovate UK are fostering a more inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that drives progress across all sectors. This programme is about more than funding – it’s about creating role models, building networks, and inspiring the next generation of women innovators to dream big and transform our world.

Stella Peace, Innovate UK Interim Executive Chair

Our 10 Commitments to Women Innovators

We have listened to the Women in Innovation community and developed 10 bold commitments. These commitments are designed to create more opportunities, foster inclusivity, and drive lasting impact for women-led businesses and the UK economy.

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Women in Innovation Award Winners

Ilisha Masaun

Personalising education through AI.

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Monica Saavedra

Revolutionising greenhouse farming with light-manipulating technology.

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Dupe Burgess

Digital therapeutics for accessible gynaecological care.

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Bridgeen Callan

Transforming melanoma treatment through photodynamic therapy.

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Success stories from pioneering women innovators

Previous winners of the Women in Innovation Awards have had a huge impact on developing innovative businesses while creating a new community of women entrepreneurs, proving that anything is possible. The stories of our remarkable award winners will inspire the next generation of women change-makers.

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Legacy winners

Changing the world. The entrepreneurs tackling society’s challenges.

Impact

Women in Innovation has had an incredible impact so far and kickstarted real change across the innovation system.

awarded since 2016

>£11m

awarded since 2016

winners supported

>200

winners supported

increase in women applying for Innovate UK funding

>100%

increase in women applying for Innovate UK funding

in our vibrant community

>10,500

in our vibrant community

PARTNERSHIPS

Purple Plaques

Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award winners are inspiring more girls into STEM careers, by returning to their former schools, running workshops for the students, and unveiling commemorative Purple Plaques.

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Emma Taylor-Steeds

Our Expert

Emma Taylor-Steeds

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Related Events and Recordings

Mon
4
Aug
2025

Innovation Loans Round 22 - Applicant Briefing Webinar and Deep-dive Workshops

14.00 - 16.00 | Online

Watch briefing or join workshop waitlist
Wed
17
Sep
2025

Large language models webinar series

14.00 - 15.30 | Online

Register for this series
See all events

Related News

Introducing the Women in Innovation Community Forum

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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Our 10 commitments to women innovators

29/04/2025

Our 10 commitments to women innovators

Innovate UK is committed to supporting women-led businesses, recognising their £250 billion economic potential. In 2024, roundtables with 50+ stakeholders led to ten key commitments to foster inclusivity, remove barriers, and enhance opportunities, ensuring a stronger, more equitable innovation system for trailblazing women innovators.

Read more
More News

Related Opportunities

2026 European Prize for Women Innovators

Opens: 17/06/2025   Closes: 25/09/2025

The prize awards women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.

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Open Horizons - Open Call for funding of women-led start-ups

Opens: 01/07/2025   Closes: 21/08/2025

Women-led startups in deep tech and digital innovation can apply for up to €55,000 in equity-free funding.

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Growth Catalyst for Early-Stage Startups, July 2025

Opens: 07/07/2025   Closes: 06/08/2025

Innovate UK’s Growth Catalyst for Early-Stage startups pilot supports innovators in 5 of the government’s frontier technologies.

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Support for innovators

How we help

How we help

Whether you are an early-stage, pre-seed innovator, or a more established company, there are many networks and resources out there to support your innovation journey. It can be confusing to know which is right for your innovation and stage of business.

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No Limits

No Limits

Develop your talent, discover opportunities to build your skills and secure investment for innovation. No Limits, launched by Innovate UK, brings you the best programmes from innovative organisations across the UK.

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NEWSLETTER

Women in Innovation newsletter

We are proud to support a vibrant Women in Innovation community that encompasses over 10,500 members. Sign up to the Women in Innovation newsletter to learn about our latest news, events and funding opportunities.

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