Mariya Gabriel is the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. Under her leadership, the new Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and the cultural strand of Creative Europe programmes are being implemented. Her main priorities are excellence in education, research and innovation, tackling the R&I divide in Europe. From 2017 to 2019 she was Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society. She was elected as Member of the European Parliament in 2009, 2014 and 2019. Mariya Gabriel is First Vice-President of the European People's Party (EPP) and since 2012, Vice-President of EPP Women.

In 2022, the leading news site EU-Startups.com ranked Commissioner Gabriel among Europe’s top 100 most influential women in the start-up and venture capital space. She received the Leadership Awards in recognition of her efforts to support the European innovation ecosystem at the Brussels Tech.eu Summit last May and Madrid South Summit last June. In September 2021, Mariya Gabriel received the ‘Best Global Impact’ award for her contribution to the European entrepreneurial ecosystem at the Startup Ole Forum, Salamanca. Кnown also for her involvement in the fight for gender equality, last April, she was awarded the prestigious “Donna é Innovazione” award (Woman leader in the field of innovation) by the Italian Osservatorio TuttiMedia association and Mediaset.