From Visionary Solutions to Future Logistics: Introducing the 2026 EU Women Innovators

Dr. Katerina Spranger almost lost her sight as a child due to an accident that required emergency surgery.

“I was fortunate,” she said, recalling how precision in surgery saved her sight, while another girl who had the same operation was not as lucky and went blind.

This memory resurfaced when Spranger received the €100,000 top prize at the 2026 EU Prize for Women Innovators, honoring her role in founding Oxford Heartbeat, a company leveraging AI to assist surgeons in making safer decisions during complex brain surgeries.

The EU Prize for Women Innovators, co-awarded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), celebrates female entrepreneurs transforming ideas into practical solutions and aims to increase their visibility in Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

Currently, women represent only 9% of European patent applicants, hold about a quarter of leadership roles, and attract just 2% of venture capital funding for their startups.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, emphasized the undervaluation of female entrepreneurs in Europe during the EIC Summit in Brussels. “We’re not there yet. And that means we’re missing a lot of talent,” she stated.

Precision Medicine

Originally from Ukraine, Spranger leads London-based Oxford Heartbeat, which creates AI software to help surgeons choose the best implants for brain surgery patients.

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It’s possible to develop cutting-edge technology, lead a company and win the highest awards as a woman.

These procedures often involve using tiny implants within blood vessels to prevent strokes or restore blood flow. With hundreds of implant options, choosing the right one heavily influences patient outcomes.

Spranger noted the significance of precision, highlighting that almost one-third of implants selected aren’t the optimal fit. “Precision saved my eyesight, inspiring me to ensure all patients have the best recovery chance,” she said.

Oxford Heartbeat’s software analyzes medical scans and patient data to determine the most suitable implant for each case.

Spranger sees the award as more than business success. “The new generation of women needs role models and examples to see that it’s possible,” she said, emphasizing the importance of visibility. “It’s possible to do whatever you want and make your dreams come true.”

Back from Space

The Rising Innovators Award, celebrating women under 35, went to Marta Oliveira. Based in Belgium, the Portuguese entrepreneur co-founded ATMOS Space Cargo, pioneering technology for safely returning cargo from space.

“Re-entry is a critical capability, currently reliant on the US. We aim to change that,” Oliveira said.

ATMOS develops reusable capsules for safely returning cargo and experiments from orbit, having tested its technology in space and employed about 90 people with €25 million in secured investment.

“Space missions are unpredictable,” Oliveira noted of a mission where plans shifted from landing near Madagascar to Brazil. “Just a different ocean,” she laughed.

With experience at NASA, ESA, CNES, and Arianespace, Oliveira has been passionate about space from childhood.

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If women see how other women can achieve these things, there’s a bigger chance they will pursue these