European Award for Scientific Innovation

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is Europe's largest innovation network and a unique body co-funded by the European Union. It fosters innovation and brings together people and organisations from business, education and research to find and commercialise solutions to pressing global challenges. The EIT also competitively recognises the achievements, activities and breakthrough innovations of innovators tackling Europe's biggest challenges, inspiring new generations of entrepreneurs across Europe. One of the competition categories is the "EIT Manufacturing RIS LEADERS Competition 2024", which recognises women leaders in innovation in technology and manufacturing.

In 2024, more than 600 women competed in this category. On 29.11.2024, the EIT Conference was held in Budapest, where only 6 selected finalists presented their projects in this category. Among them was also our colleague from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, UCM in Trnava, RNDr. Šarlota Kaňuková, PhD. In the final she took the 3rd place, which is probably the most important European award our young scientist has received so far. It is certainly an encouragement in her and our further scientific activities and prospective applications of plant biotechnology in practice.