Grethe Schepers

What does innovation look like in 2025? From AI to blockbuster weight-loss drugs, Europe’s forward-thinking companies punch above their weight. For the first time, Fortune analyzed the top companies across the continent in partnership with Statista to find the standouts that are driving progress with success. Patent data was provided by LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions.

Updated September 18, 2024 at 5:59 AM Representation matters. Today’s businesses should reflect who we are, and our shared values. The inaugural Fortune LGBTQ+ Leaders list marks how far we’ve come–and how much work still needs to be done. For the first time in history, Fortune ranked by revenue the world’s top CEOs, Chairs and Co-Founders who also happen to be LGBTQ+.

Fortune's inaugural list of high-growth, innovative companies led by women offers a stark reminder of the state of play at the top of the corporate ladder: Women at the summit still have a long way to go in the search for equality. To build this list, we looked at the fastest-growing companies across all sectors in Europe and selected those with women holding key positions that drove growth and innovation.