Launch of the New Cycle of the EWA Programme in Greece for 2025 – Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs in the Agrifood Sector

Athens, 8 April 2025 – The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Food), in collaboration with AWomanCanBe.org, announces the launch of the new cycle of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) Programme in Greece for 2025. The programme, implemented in 13 countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Albania, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia), aims to support women with innovative ideas or those in the early stages of launching their startups (from 2022 onwards).

Selected participants will receive six months of continuous support for their businesses and project development through online training and personalised mentoring. Additionally, they will have access to investors, experts, and entrepreneurs who will help them grow their ideas and businesses. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to compete for up to €10,000 in the final competition, which will reward two winners (the 1st place will receive €10,000 and the 2nd place €5,000).

How to Participate?

Interested candidates can apply until 25 May 2025 via the following link: https://www.f6s.com/ewa-2025-ellada/apply.

The programme is free of charge and is open to women over 18 with ideas or early-stage startups.

Collaboration with the University of Thessaly – Info Event

As part of the programme’s promotion, a special informational event will be held in collaboration with the University of Thessaly, where interested participants will be informed about:

  • Eligibility criteria (business ideas or startups up to 3 years old).
  • Benefits: 6 months of mentoring, training, access to a professional network, €1,000 support for programme participation, and a chance to win an additional €15,000 for the top two winners of the final competition.
  • How to apply (by 25 May 2025)

The event will take place on 5 May at 18:00 at the JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa, featuring presentations by experts and successful EWA alumnae. Participants will receive guidance on how to create their applications.

 

Programme Sponsor – Nikolopoulou Foods

EWA 2025 is supported by Nikolopoulou Foods, which, as the main sponsor in Greece, reinforces its commitment to entrepreneurial equality, innovation in the agrifood sector, and the empowerment of women who stand out with their ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. Nikolopoulou Foods will fund and award the 2nd prize of €5,000.

Notes for Journalists:

  • In Europe, the underrepresentation of women in rural areas affects not only entrepreneurship but the wider sector. The European Commission is working alongside EU Member States and co-funding programmes like EWA to tackle these challenges and encourage more women to start their own businesses.
  • In Greece, the programme is implemented in collaboration with AWomanCanBe.org, aiming to reduce gender inequalities in the agrifood sector.
  • Statistics: Only 31% of women in the EU hold leadership positions in agriculture (Eurostat, 2023).

Contact:
For EIT Food: Carolina Silva Marques | carolina.silvamarques@eitfood.eu
For AWomanCanBe.org: Konstantina Tongaridou | info@awomancanbe.org | +30 6940748716

For more information, visit: eitfood.eu | awomancanbe.org