Action plan for women in research, innovation and start-ups

In response to the European Commissions January 2026 call for evidence on the Women in research, innovation and startups - action plan, the Coimbra Group (CG) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the forthcoming EU action plan. Progress in equality, diversity and inclusion strengthen research and innovation (R&I) systems, economic growth and collective well being.

There are several problems in research & innovation systems: 1. There are structural and institutional barriers (Women continue to face structural barriers rooted in how research and innovation systems are organised, rather than in individual choices or capabilities). 2.

Junior Enterprises Global (JE Global) strongly supports the European Commissions upcoming Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups and shares the ambition to make the EU the most attractive place in the world for women in these fields by 2030.

1. Do women encounter specific challenges? Yes across the entire pipeline. Early pipeline barriers. Evidence from the STREAM IT Summer Camp (Malmö, June 2025) shows that before the programme only 1 of 9 girls was certain about pursuing STEM. After five days of applied learning and exposure to women role models, nearly all reported strong interest and increased confidence.

Gender equality is a fundamental value of the ERA. The Action Plan should include mandatory integration of gender and intersectionality in research content, and zero tolerance approaches to gender-based violence to support safe and inclusive working environments. Monitoring of gender equality should be linked to funding and common indicators to prevent backsliding.

LibActive is a non-profit organisation based in France that promotes the French language through French language learning. It primarily works with marginalized communities, including migrants, women who have experienced domestic violence, and people with disabilities. Language barriers, as well as digital illiteracy, often represent significant obstacles for women with entrepreneurial projects or start-ups.

Gender equality in research and innovation is not a womens issue but a fundamental human right and a strategic imperative for Europes competitiveness, health, and economic resilience.Despite decades of progress, structural gender gaps persist across the entire research, innovation, and startup value chainparticularly in STEM, health research, deep tech, and access to capital.

Institut Pasteur strongly endorses the EU Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups, recognizing that diversity is a precondition for European scientific excellence, competitiveness and societal impact.

The EU2Cure consortium represents 15 leading research institutions across 11 EU Member States dedicated to accelerating an HIV cure through coordinated clinical cohorts, shared data infrastructure, and integrated care-research models embedded in national health systems.

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), a global network of more than 24,000 researchers at all career stages, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to strengthen womens participation in research, innovation and startups, paving the way to a more inclusive and equitable European Research Area (ERA).

KEHSIA ASBL is a non-profit organisation based in Luxembourg founded on the conviction that a sustainable future must place the human being at its centre. KEHSIA promotes social and technological innovation as a way to increase the participation of women and youth in public institutions, private organisations and civil society.

Persistent gender, and broader inequalities in research and innovation (R&I) prevents science from delivering the full extent of its benefits for all of society, with marginalised and deprioritised populations, including women & gender minorities disproportionately disadvantaged. This is particularly pertinent in the field of health, where it can be a matter of life or death.

DARE Innovations welcomes the European Commissions consultation on the forthcoming Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups. As a European innovation advisory firm working at the intersection of research commercialisation, startup acceleration and investment readiness, we have worked with more than 190 women-led early-stage deeptech ventures across emerging ecosystems.

ECTRI fully endorses the European Commission Presidents message: Science has no passport, gender, ethnicity, or political colour. As such, ECTRI supports the European Commissions proposal on the EUs Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups and its goals.

Women continue to face challenges that impact their access, inclusion, recognition and advancement in the research and innovation ecosystem. Precarious working contracts, limited funding opportunities, hostile climates, motherhood penalty, and lack of gender mainstreaming within career support systems, to name a few, result in a leaky pipeline and underrepresentation of women in leadership and decision-making…

Despite decades of initiatives, gender inequality in academia, particularly in STEM, remains a structural problem. Progress has been made, but at a pace that is far too slow to reflect the urgency of the issue. The persistent underrepresentation of women in STEM is often treated not as a systemic failure, but as a neutral state of affairs, just the way things are. This normalization is itself part of the problem.

Startup Portugal is a Portuguese nonprofit organisation holding the Statute of Public Utility, conferred by Decree-Law No. 33/2019 of 4 March, whose mission is to carry out activities of public interest aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, in close connection with public and private entities operating within the national entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes the Commissions Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups and highlights the importance of the inclusion of a stronger sectoral focus on the energy sector, given its central role in Europes climate neutrality and industrial competitiveness agenda.

The Women of ERA (WERA) Committee, an official body of the ERA (European Renal Association) welcomes the EUs efforts to promote gender equality in research and innovation and to unlock the often underutilised potential of women scientists and innovators. Addressing gender inequality in medicine requires strong commitment not only from medical societies, but also from policymakers at both the EU and national levels.

UNESCO welcomes the EU's consultation on the Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups. Women continue to be underrepresented in the global research workforce, accounting for less than one third of researchers worldwide on average (see UNESCO factsheet attached). This imbalance is not only a matter of equity, but also one that affects the quality, relevance and societal impact of science.

As a life science research institution, we welcome the Commissions commitment to promoting gender equality in research and innovation and the progress made through measures such as mandatory Gender Equality Plans and the requirement to address sex and gender dimensions already at proposal stage.

To make sure that women can "unlock their full potential" a focus on (under)representation (percentages) has to be complemented by a focus on working/living conditions. We not only need to secure participation of female scientists, but also the best possible working and living conditions for female scientists (equal pay, additional support in challenging situations, no tolerance policies regarding violence and power…

I welcome the European Commissions initiative to prepare an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Based on my academic background, experience in Czech public administration, and participation in EU-level policy discussions, I consider structural measures, measurable monitoring, and coordinated EU action essential for long-term impact. Please find my detailed contribution attached below.

Instruct-ERIC strongly welcomes the EUs initiative of the action plan for women in research, innovation and startups. Women still face significant challenges and barriers in the research sector that make it an unwelcoming and sometimes actively adverse environment to work in. The EC can positively support a change towards better inclusion of women in R&I through various mechanisms.

I would like to shortly focus on the underrepresentation of women in participating and driving innovation ecosystems. There is a huge need to understand the cause for it, the reason of which goes far beyond e.g. patent applications.

Women-led startups in Europe receive only 2 to 3% of venture capital, with mixed teams receiving 10 to 15%. This gap widens at growth stages, limiting scale, exits and capital recycling. Evidence suggests structural bias in networks, due diligence and investment committees, rather than performance differences.

Yes, women working in research, innovation, and start-ups face different challenges and barriers. For example, during the pandemic, numerous publications were released discussing gender differences in research. Men had more time to publish, whereas women experienced more time constraints.

Business & Science Poland (BSP) welcomes the European Unions initiative to develop the action plan for women in research, innovation and startups. Our recommendations aim to strengthen Europes competitiveness by unlocking womens innovation potential through measures that reduce real-world friction: simpler rules that are genuinely usable, clearer and more predictable funding pathways, and fewer barriers to scaling…

Catalonia is a region with a strong and dynamic innovation and research system. The regional government is firmly committed to contributing to excellence and innovation on the European Research Area, thus it is presenting a position paper to contribute on the EU Action Plan for Women, Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2026.

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) representing around 330,000 veterinarians across 38 European countries aims to enhance animal health, animal welfare, and public health and to protect the environment by promoting the veterinary profession.

Applied Microbiology International, is a charitable society dedicated to advancing the field of microbiology globally with members in over 100 countries. This response has been shaped by insights from our members around the globe. To promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in research, innovation, and startups, the EU and its Member States should take targeted actions.

Women in research, innovation and startups continue to face structural barriers that limit both their participation and progression in the field. These barriers are rooted in persistent inequalities in the distribution of unpaid care responsibilities, the gender pay gap and in gender-based violence ('Promoting Gender Equality and Institutional Changes through EU-Funded Research', 2026).

The 2030 Strategy for Equality of Women and Men in the Basque Country focuses on the incorporation of the gender approach and the ecofeminist perspective in all major transformative projects that are being developed and will be developed in our region in the coming years.

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TNO applauds the European Commissions efforts to improve the position of women in research, innovation and start-ups and welcomes the call for evidence to contribute feedback. At TNO, we work hard to create a work environment where every employee can flourish. An effective action plan from the European Commission to improve the position of women will boost our, and other organisations, ability to do so.

Norwegian feedback on Action plan for women in research, innovation and startups Date: 23.02.2025 From: Norways delegates to ERA Forum Sub-group on Inclusive Gender Equality The Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research and Higher Education: Senior adviser Ella Ghosh The Research Council of Norway: Special adviser Lillian Baltzrud and Senior Adviser Elin Rekdal Müller

The Guilds feedback for the European Commission Action Plan for Women in research, innovation and startups The Guild comprises twenty-three of Europes most distinguished research-intensive universities in seventeen countries and is dedicated to enhancing the voice of academic institutions, their researchers and their students.

EIT Manufacturing is one of nine innovation communities supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. Its purpose is to improve peoples lives through sustainable manufacturing. By connecting industry, research and education, EIT Manufacturing empowers talent and entrepreneurship to accelerate innovation across Europe.

The Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG) is an Austrian non-university research organisation committed to research equality. This submission compiles input from two of its institutes: the LBI for Science Outreach and Pandemic Preparedness (SOAP) and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR).

Despite progress, many challenges still hinder progress towards equality, diversity, and inclusion in Europe, including in research and innovation. According to She Figures data, while women make up 47% of the graduate talent pool, they occupy only a third of senior research positions and a quarter of the positions of heads of Higher Education Institutions. This gap is even starker in STEM and business fields.

Navigating bank support as a woman founder in Europe can feel like running an obstacle course with invisible rules. The system often assumes collateral, long operating history, and predictable cashflowsexactly what innovative startups and research spin-offs typically dont have. On top of that, decisions can depend heavily on informal networks and who you know, which magnifies gaps in access to decision-makers.

This commentary is submitted on behalf of the Research Council of Lithuania (Lith. Lietuvos mokslo taryba LMT), an independent institution advising the Government of Lithuania on matters related to science and research policy. The full commentary is provided in the attached MS Word document.

BeWiSe is a Belgian non-profit supporting women in science. Through direct engagement with girls, students, researchers and leaders, we observe structural barriers across the full research and innovation pipeline, from early aspirations to leadership and investment visibility. -Challenges and barriers in research A practical challenge is the limited number of women in faculties.

CRef welcomes the European Commission's intention to propose an action plan for women in research, innovation and start-ups. Research and innovation are engines of progress, shaping our societies and helping to tackle global challenges. Yet, their full potential can only be realised when everyone, regardless of gender, can contribute.

INRAE welcomes the European Commissions initiative to strengthen the role of women in research & innovation. Promoting gender equality is indeed a key driver of both scientific excellence and attractiveness. INRAE would first like to emphasize that the persistence of inequalities between women and men in R&I leads to several negative effects: - A lack of diversity, which is nevertheless a source of richness and…

From the perspective of Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) offices in public research universities, the underrepresentation of women in research-based entrepreneurship reflects systemic barriers across academia, innovation support structures, and the investment ecosystem.

1. Do you think that women encounter specific challenges and barriers? If so, which ones? As an applied research organization, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft stands for research and transfer. The following section focuses on the obstacles and challenges faced by women in research. These are outlined concisely below.

The noticeable difference between men and women truly became apparent to me when my daughter was born. I am raising her on my own, and as a result, my working hoursas well as the amount of time I can devote to my jobare directly tied to her schedule. The fact that my work has had to be fragmented in order to care for her has also played a major role in affecting my efficiency.

High-quality, inclusive research and innovation systems are essential to Europes future: our social cohesion, our response to major challenges and our long-term competitiveness. The Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups is therefore a critical opportunity to address the structural and systemic barriers that continue to limit womens full participation across research careers, innovation…

As the Managing Authority of the European Funds for Eastern Poland 2021-2027, we are convinced of the need to counteract existing gender inequalities in access to the labor market, entrepreneurship, and economic resources. An analysis of the situation of women in the Polish labor market and entrepreneurship sector indicates persistent, profound structural inequalities.

EIT Food welcomes the European Unions action plan for women in research, innovation, and startups, which aligns with President von der Leyens message in her 2025 State of the Union speech. EIT Food supports building a European Research Area where researchers and knowledge flow freely across the EU, including efforts to address the low participation of women in these fields.

Despite near gender parity in higher education and strong female representation in research leadership at UiT and across Norway, women remain significantly underrepresented in innovation, commercialization, and startup creation. This gap is not due to a lack of talent but reflects structural biases, outdated innovation models, and unequal access to opportunities.

I strongly support the EU Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups. Gender equality in these fields is essential for competitiveness, economic growth, and social progress. The plan should prioritise better access to funding for women-led research and startups, gender-balanced evaluation panels, and transparent selection criteria.

The European energy transition requires not only technological advancement but structural transformation in education systems, research cultures, and innovation ecosystems. Persistent gender inequalities in research and innovation are not solely the result of underrepresentation; they are rooted in institutional design, organizational cultures, gender-blind curricula, biased evaluation systems, and exclusionary…

At the von Karman Institute, we recognise that women in research, innovation, and STEM face persistent challenges, including structural inequalities, unconscious bias, underrepresentation in leadership, and the pressures of balancing career and family responsibilities. These barriers limit equal opportunities, hinder the full development of talent, and reduce the impact of scientific and technological advances.

At the University of Oulu, our values, Code of Conduct, Equality and diversity plan as well as our dedication to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, align closely with the objectives outlined in the Action Plan.

I strongly welcome the European Commissions initiative to develop a new action plan for women in research, innovation and startups. As a principal scientist and laboratory head in the biopharmaceutical industry, I have observed both meaningful progress and persistent structural challenges that influence the long-term progression and retention of women in research-intensive environments.

Given the numerous challenges / barriers that women in R&I as well as in start-ups still encounter these days, the EU must make sure that structural barriers are removed to the extent possible. As part of this, maintaining the gender aspects that have been part of the current Horizon Europe programme should at least be kept (if not improved/broadened to other aspects of diversity/inclusion) in the new version (FP…

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is an independent NGO that represents the interests of 100 million Europeans with disabilities. We welcome the initiative for an Action plan for women in research, innovation and startups, as it an occasion to promote an intersectional approach and include evidence on how gender and disability intersect.

Dear Sir/Madam, We are writing to address the initiative and to provide input to the Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups. Following our experience in commercialisation of scientific research and female entrepreneurship in R&D, we take the liberty to suggest following key themes: Financial support o Access to early and follow-up finance, o Changing the funding process to make it more…

LERU welcomes the EC initiative for an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. We strongly support the Commissions continuing and evolving efforts to advance inclusive gender equality across the EU and in particular in the higher education sector. We offer several suggestions for the Commission to take into account in developing the Action Plan (cf. below and separate document).

Albeit appreciating the mention of minorities beyond women in question 4, we believe the questionnaire does not go far enough in addressing racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people and other diverse groups, including intersectionality. We acknowledge that binary gender is often used due to difficulties in collecting broader demographic data.

Flire submission compact · MDCopyContribution by FLIRE Female Leaders in Real Estate (www.flire.cz) Professional network of ~150 women in senior leadership in Czech real estate. While we do not operate directly in research or startups, the structural barriers our members face are strikingly similar across sectors. Our perspective is therefore highly relevant to this consultation.

The Research Development Area (REDE) of Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele works at the interface between researchers, funding programmes and institutional research strategies. From this operational perspective, we suggest focusing the action plan on a limited number of structural levers capable of producing measurable change.

The CNRS welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Our contribution, submitted as an attachment to this statement, draws on the CNRSs scientific expertise and institutional experience and emphasises the need for evidence-based, structural and intersectional measures to address persistent gender gaps, strengthen inclusive excellence, and…

The European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups and strongly supports its objectives. Gender inequality remains a persistent structural challenge across Europes research and innovation ecosystem, with particularly acute impacts in frontier deep-tech domains such as Quantum Information Science and…

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an action plan for women in research, innovation and startups. The DFG strongly supports the overall objectives of the initiative and considers it an important and timely contribution to strengthening equality, diversity and inclusion across the European Research Area.

Gender Bias in Research and Clinical Evidence: A Structural Knowledge Gap Despite progress in gender equity discourse, biomedical research and clinical trials have historically been conducted predominantly in male populations. This has led to significant diagnostic and therapeutic disparities affecting women across Europe.

It is essential that enough incentives for women to effectively take part in research, innovation and startups exists, given their difficulties in addressing all demands and also in progressing in their careers.

The University of Tuscia strongly supports the European Commissions initiative to adopt a first Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. While acknowledging the significant progress achieved over the decades, including the strengthening of EU gender equality legislation and the presence of women in the highest European institutional roles, we stress that structural inequalities persist across…

The Specialised Group of Women in Physics (GEMF) of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics (RSEF) wishes to contribute to this consultation on the future European Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups (https://www.gemf-rsef.es/). GEMF was established in 2002 following IUPAP recommendations on Women in Physics.

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The response from SDU Feminist Network to the EU's call for evidence on 'Women in Research, Innovation and Startups Action Plan' underscores the need for a comprehensive, intersectional approach to address persistent gender disparities. Our key take aways are recommendations are: 1.

The University of Groningen welcomes the EU Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups and emphasises that diversity is a precondition for research excellence, competitiveness and societal impact. Women remain underrepresented at top academic levels and in innovation ecosystems. Despite incremental progress, structural gender inequality persists.

The EU should systematically address the early exit of women from knowledge and innovation ecosystems by strengthening the professional stability of women aged 45-55 through the recognition of informal social and digital skills. Regionally sensitive lifelong learning and networking measures are needed, taking into account the intersection of gender, age and place of residence.

Sorbonne University welcomes the initiative by the European Commission to develop an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. We support the continued and evolving efforts to advance inclusive gender equality across the European Union, particularly within higher education.

We are the association Mutterschutz für alle e.V. (Maternity Protection for All) and are committed to ensuring that women who generate their income through self-employment are protected in the event of pregnancy, so that their companies and businesses are shielded from extreme economic impacts.

From KU Leuven KICK, we aim to strengthen the LERU response by drawing additional attention to the intersection of gender, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Our experience in supporting start-ups, spin-offs, and founders shows that structural barriers for women in the innovation ecosystem are not limited to the academic context, but also play a significant role throughout both the valorisation phase and the…

The Ordine degli Avvocati di Roma, through its Commission on Fashion Law and Made in Italy, is pleased to submit the attached feedback with particular emphasis on the textile and fashion sector as a field in which women play a central and transformative role.

The Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions call for evidence for the upcoming Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups, open until 23 February 2026. The initiative aims to address persistent gender gaps, improve career development, and enhance diversity and inclusion in the European Research Area.

Women in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship face persistent structural and social barriers that limit their full participation and potential. It is crucial that EU initiatives actively recognize and address the intersection between professional responsibilities and personal life, including the realities of being a mother.

All Digital welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Our detailed feedback is provided in the attached document. Drawing on evidence from EU funded projects implemented across our network of 120 member organisations and 25,000 digital competence centres in 31 countries, we recommend a systemic, ecosystem-wide approach to closing gender…

As part of the European Commission’s call for evidence, the Regional Union of Computer and Digital Professionals in Bordeaux conducted a qualitative survey of its members to feed into the discussions on the next action plan to support women in research, innovation and start-ups.

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Women in research, innovation and startups face persistent structural barriers that limit their participation, progression and access to capital. They remain underrepresented in deep-tech entrepreneurship and encounter a leaky pipeline in STEM, with significant drop-offs at the transition from secondary education to university and again at labour-market entry.

The NetworkWomen in Rare Diseases warmly welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to make the EU the world’s most attractive place for women in research, innovation and start-ups by 2030. Women in Rare Diseases is a nationwide network of professionally engaged women from science and research, clinical care, research pharmaceutical companies, communication and foundation work in the field of rare diseases in…

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Women in research, innovation and startups continue to face persistent structural, cultural and financial barriers, even in highly gender equal Nordic countries. In RTOs, EU frameworks often prioritise linear academic career models, under-recognising applied research, project based work, industrial collaboration, technology development and co-creation.

My academic trajectory has been marked by episodes that have profoundly shaped both my scientific development and my personal resilience. These were not merely ordinary professional challenges, but explicit situations involving sexism, abuse of power, and intellectual appropriation. My first experience in France as a young researcher unfolded within a strongly asymmetrical hierarchical environment.

The HELIOS and HemaFAIR Consortia welcome this public consultation, recognising its strategic importance in strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) and enhancing Europes role as an attractive, inclusive, and supportive environment for women.

Specific challenges / barriers that women encounter in R&I/start-ups (none of them new they still are): Difficulty to make room for both family and job life especially for younger women scientists (double burden) Overall expectation in R&I and in start-ups: full dedication to work also in terms of working hours around the clock (exacerbates above-mentioned aspect) Very few lead female authors in highly-ranked…

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) appreciates the Commissions initiative with the aim of making the EU the most attractive place for women to work and build careers in these areas by 2030. TU/e is committed and fosters a strong and welcoming community that promotes inclusiveness, equality, and cooperation. This is a strategic priority for TU/e for the coming years, as institutionalized in TU/e Strategy.

ACT | The App Association (hereafter ACT) welcomes the opportunity to submit comments to the European Commissions consultation on the EUs Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation, and Startups. ACT is a policy trade association for the small business technology developer community.

As the EU agency for gender equality, we welcome the Commissions initiative to develop a new Action plan on women in research, innovation and startups and provide evidence to feed into that process based on EIGEs research, with intersecting inequalities are a cross-cutting principle.

As the funder and CEO of an European SME, I welcome the European Commissions initiative to develop an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Addressing gender inequality in these areas is essential not only for fairness, but also for the quality, relevance and impact of research and innovation in Europe.

A mix of different factors leads to the specific challenges and barriers that women face in research, innovation, and start-ups. Societal power asymmetries between genders are also reflected in these fields. A male-dominated image of research, innovation, and start-ups; a narrowly defined and male-shaped concept of excellence; a less inclusive working environment (in terms of organizational culture); and reduced…

From Czechitas experience delivering large-scale digital upskilling and reskilling for women in the Czech Republic, women in research, innovation and start-ups do face barriers that start early and then accumulate: lower exposure to STEM pathways and role models, stronger belonging doubts when entering male-dominated environments, and fewer accessible networks that open doors to opportunities, mentors and capital.

Within many organizations, including Erasmus University Rotterdam, a large gender pay gap exists. For instance, see: https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2025/01/24/pay-gap-remains-significant-men-at-eur-earn-15-per-cent-more/ and https://esb.nu/at-ese-females-and-non-dutch-are-lagging-behind-in-rank-and-earnings/. Both studies also emphasize that it is important to take an intersectional perspective.

The Association of Nordic Engineers (ANE) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to strengthen womens participation in research, innovation and startups, highlighting persistent gender gaps and structural barriers across Europe. Evidence from the Nordic countries shows that women face challenges such as a lower sense of belonging, discrimination, stereotypes and unequal access to STEM pathways.

Perspective: University of Applied Sciences Human Resources & Equality Management As a University of Applied Sciences with a strong focus on engineering, applied research, and innovation, FH Technikum Wien contributes practice-based evidence from the systematic implementation of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion measures between 2021 and 2025.

Inquiry on mandatory gender quotas across EU funding and activities I would like to ask the European Commission to clarify whether the forthcoming action plan will introduce binding gender quotas across all programmes, instruments, and activities financed under the framework of the European Union.

I welcome the direction of the proposed Action Plan, but its success will depend on turning ambitions into practical, measurable actions. In the research and startup ecosystem, women still face structural barriers including unstable contracts at early career stages, limited recognition of care-related career breaks in evaluation systems, more difficult access to finance, and lower representation in investor networks…

Over the past decades, the European Commission has played a pivotal role in advancing gender equality in research and innovation (R&I). From early Women in Science initiatives and stocktaking exercises (EC, 2010) to the shift towards structural change (EC, 2012) and the integration of the gender dimension in research content (Shiebinger, 2008).

I founded my company in 2015, using digital tools to apply CSR audit principles in France, with the aim of reducing the operational costs of CSR audits (innovation). The launch was chaotic. Bpifrance, represented by my bank, asked me to find a male associate so that my application would be taken seriously.

This contribution draws on evidence generated through EU-funded research, notably the GRASS CEILING Horizon Europe project, and AEIDL's long-standing policy work on gender equality and place-based innovation. The Action Plan comes at a decisive moment for the European Union.

Gender balance is only possible when doing both, i.e. increasing the share of women involved in research, innovation and tech-startups AND involving the needs and perspectives of women in research, innovation and tech-startups. A prominent example has been the crash-test dummies still only mirroring the body size and shape of the average man, thereby making cars much more dangerous and lethal for anyone else.

We would greatly appreciate more comprehensive support in the areas of prevention and training to help us organize and safeguard our security, both as women scholars and as researchers working on equality, violence, gender, and other politically sensitive topics.

I have been working in Life Sciences since 1984 - apprenteship, university degrees, PhD, industry, SME, public research institution, university . Research, research management, consulting, project management, fundraising.

To strengthen the competitiveness and quality of the European research and innovation ecosystem, the EU and its Member States should adopt a systemic approach to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (D&I). First, the conditionality of public funding should be reinforced by making equality and inclusion plans mandatory for all organisations accessing European and national research and innovation funds.

Women in research, innovation and startups face specific challenges an hardships, mostly in how to deal and compatibilise the multiple activities require of them but also in terms of howe their leadership skills are recognised and valued. For the first part, it would be necessary that the EU clarifies what the status of investigator or entrepreneurs should look like vis a vis their national institutions.

WiSDA (Woman in Science Diplomacy Association) welcomes the European Commissions Call for Evidence supporting the development of an Action Plan for women in research, innovation, and startups. As a global network of women active at the interface of science, innovation, diplomacy, and policy, WiSDA provides the following evidence-based considerations. 1.

I am a teacher in engineering field and I use the approach of the SDGs and of the intersectionality policy in my lessons. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion approach is always present in each discussion in which I amusing an inclusive language and avoiding the uncounscous bias. The problem is to use the AI without considering the difference among gender, race, religion or sensual approach.

A critical part of having better representation of women in research, innovation and startups is about talent mobility. Female STEM talent engaged in Poland about an opportunity to work in technology roles in Ireland proved to be 800% more likely to share their approach with friends & family before responding.

Gender equality in research, innovation and start-ups is crucial for progress and economic strength. Women and other marginalised groups continue to face structural and cultural barriers, such as male-dominated selection procedures, lack of visibility, prejudices and lack of funding programmes, especially in STEM.

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One of the main initiators of the academic and research career is that it is very unattractive for women. Gender biases start to work from the pre-school stages, with girls being more perfectionist than boys. They are discouraged from entering science or research careers, because they are made to think that they are not good for doing so, while men may find it hardly strange to take an interest in humanities or…

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I am fed up with "celebrations" of female researchers in here and there. I prefer to see equality in funding, equal representation in permanent faculty positions and equal participation in political decisions. Having another "women in XY event" does not help promote women. It rather replaces equal participation by a bonbon.

Women continue to face structural barriers rooted in how research and innovation systems are organised. Among (many) other problems, Gender-based violence, including psychological violence and sexual harassment, is widespread in European academia and disproportionately affects women (UniSAFE, Key Findings Report, 2022).

As a young woman researcher and Assistant Professor, I often reflect on the topics that arise when we discuss women in science. First, I believe we must educate ourselves about our own biases, especially those of us involved in decision-making processes, though not exclusively.

I believe that the main reason why women do not reach senior academic positions is systemic. Many current efforts focus on supporting women with children, which is important. However, assuming that motherhood is the primary barrier is a mistake. Women without children also struggle to progress beyond postdoctoral positions.

Our experience across venture, deep-tech ecosystems, and Digital Europe-funded programmes indicates that the underrepresentation of women in innovation and STEM is not primarily a question of ability or motivation. It reflects structural dynamics across the full pipeline from university entry to investment decision-making and scale-up leadership. 1.

As a woman with fifteen years of experience in international STEM education and mentoring from my first calculus class, I do agree on the list of problems to tackle you put out. The last one is for me the most impactful of the three and the urgent one. And I would like to add, that it is not necessarily directed towards women. I would love to participate in this project and give my contribution.

The European Unions initiative to strengthen womens participation in research, innovation and startups is both timely and strategically aligned with the EUs long-term competitiveness objectives. Persistent structural barriersparticularly in STEM fields, access to leadership positions, and early-stage investment ecosystemscontinue to limit the full mobilization of available talent.

As a woman who provides innovations and builds startups, I see significant gender gaps in leadership roles and promotions for women. Despite the high competitiveness in the industry, behavioral models between men and women often create uncertainty, preventing women from obtaining better roles and decision-making positions.

Contributing to the Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups Kao PhDandica and mother, I believe that, in order to achieve the European Union’s 2030 targets, it is essential to systematically identify the specific structural barriers faced by women in research, innovation and the start-up ecosystem, especially those who have parental responsibilities at the same time.

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Women in research, innovation and startups encounter persistent structural barriers that cannot be explained by deficits in skills, participation or ambition. Evidence from education, employment and leadership research shows a consistent pattern: women enter talent pipelines in large numbers but do not experience equivalent progression, security or reward.

All these actions and initiatives should think outside of the box. While it is great that women are encouraged to be more involved in research, innovation and startups, but lack of encouragement is not the reason why there is low participation from women. In fact, from education perspective, the participation of women in STEM, research and innovation is strong.

One of the biggest gaps is representation, women are still underrepresented in research and innovation, especially in top academic roles and leadership positions. To change this, dedicated mentorship programs, and visibility initiatives could help attract and support young women and girls in these areas. Theres also a career progression gap.

I have not investigated this issue but would like to confirm that it is crucial to continue working on it. Accessibility for people with disabilities is also a very important area where much can be improved. It is up to us to lead by example in all areas.

Filed in Dutch · English published by the European Commission

I don't want to dwell on issues that we are all familiar with. I believe there are two key factors that could increase the presence of women in research and start-ups: i. the introduction of quotas, and ii the opportunity to be part of a network or community where people in the same situation can exchange ideas.

This submission draws on evidence from three pilot programmes delivered under the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, a cross-border initiative led by InterTradeIreland with Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. The Scheme seeks to strengthen all-island economic development and prioritises female entrepreneurship and innovation among women researchers as a driver of competitiveness and inclusive growth.

An action plan must attend not only to formal indicators of inclusion but to the organisational conditions through which exclusion is quietly sustained. When promotion is repeatedly deferred through shifting procedural justifications, when institutional support remains absent despite demonstrable research leadership, and when reputational narratives circulate informally to stabilise managerial discretion, inequality…

- Global efforts are needed to incorporate a higher % of Women in Research G2G, C2C. - An empowered society, an open and growth-oriented mindset of "Boss", gender-nutral, nationality-nutral- age-nutral, only talent-based candidate selection, fast track funding policies, government checks on must have % women in Institutes, equal share of responsibilities in family/partnership (mainly after 1st child), will foster…

Re Q1: In 2010, a panel of science leaders participating in the FP7 project, genSET, produced evidence-based, consensus report which divided challenges into four interacting categories: a) biases favouring men in organisational processes and practices, b) biases favouring men in human capital development, c) gaps and biases in knowledge, d) and lack of compliance with regulation.

The 34% representation figure is important, but it doesn't tell us where in the knowledge pipeline gender effects compound most severely and this can make it difficult to design effective interventions. The diagnostic gap: Research organisations produce knowledge, validate it through peer review and assessment processes, distribute it through institutional channels, and translate it into decision-making.

I very much welcome the planned Action Plan. As a linguist, diversity expert and entrepreneur, I have been working for many years at the intersection of language, power, organisation and equity of opportunity. The structural inequalities described in the document, such as the underrepresentation of women in STEM, leadership positions, patent applications and the start-up ecosystem, as well as gender-based violence…

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

If you want to work with women entrepreneurs, then you need to favor tenders towards us - asking for vendors who are women led companies - if you want to develop small entrepreneurs, then you can't apply to us the same criteria as for the already established companies. Assess our capability to scale, rather than ask for size proof from day 1.

When looking at clean competition, it matters whether you are a woman or a man. He told me, then (2001), that he was not hired because I was a woman. But today there is very little competition. Relations matter much more. If you are well-placed, it’s much easier to do it. Anyone who is not as habitant should do much more to achieve the same result.

Filed in Hungarian · English published by the European Commission

As a postdoctoral researcher (PF IF) working in Germany, I really appreciate the EUs action plan for women in research, innovation, and startups. At the senior postdoctoral stage, many women experience uncertainty around career progression, short-term contracts, and the challenge of balancing research excellence with personal responsibilities.

Women are still underrepresented both in Europe and around the world in many fields. One of the main reasons is the disproportionate level of social and family responsibilities placed on women. This makes their educational journeys more challenging. Life events such as marriage and motherhood can significantly affect the continuity of education and career development.

- Do you think that women in research, innovation and startups encounter specific challenges and barriers? If so, which ones? I am not sure. I see the patterns are changing rapidly. Why do you think young girls choose not to pursue a STEM career when they go to university? Decision to balance work and family time may play a role.

Do you think that women in research, innovation and startups encounter specific challenges and barriers? yes in academic research. The senior leadership is male-dominated. Therefore, the academic work model has designed by men to suit the lives of men in generations past and present and does not reflect the experience of many women.

I am the founder of a small business, Archaeology for Wellbeing, which operates at the intersection of research, cultural heritage, and innovation in workplace wellbeing. I am also a mother of two. My work draws directly on research expertise and public-facing innovation, yet it sits outside traditional institutional structures. 1.

I welcome the EU Action Plan for women in research, innovation, and startups, and strongly support its ambition to make the European Research Area the world's most attractive place for women by 2030. From my experience working closely with SMEs and startups through business support networks, I would like to highlight three practical priorities for impact: 1. Move beyond awareness to operational support.

I am a male professor at a Catholic university in Hungary. As I can observe, the majority of my colleaguesboth in our department and across the entire facultyare female professors. In our faculty, many women hold leadership positions as department heads. However, deans are typically men. The opportunity to build an academic career is open to women without gender-based limitations.

The World Roma Federation (WRF) welcomes the preparation of a new EU Action Plan for women in research, innovation and startups and strongly supports its ambition to address structural gender inequalities. Based on our transnational work with women-led organisations and communities across the EU and neighbouring countries, we would like to highlight that women facing multiple and intersectional forms of…

We welcome this project! Women face specific barriers to starting a business/start-up. By way of example, we examined this with the federal gründerinnenagentur (bga) in the project innoGründerinnen, which deals with the founding of women at German universities.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

Contribution to the Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Start-ups I am a PhD Researcher in Social and Human Sciences at FCSH/NOVA and a Portuguese woman with an academic trajectory developed in a mature phase of life.

Filed in Portuguese · English published by the European Commission

Women researchers have usually to demonstrate double or triple to be heard, so my proposal is that if equal cv is provided consider gender aspect as well as youth in different research staments, mostly linked to relevant positions. Another intervention should be related to the gender balance in committees, organizations... Prizes for women will also recognize our work.

Women remain significantly underrepresented in innovation, so an effective action plan for women in research, innovation and startups must tackle both intellectual property (IP) ownership gaps and gendered barriers in access to capital.

1. Do you think that women in research, innovation and startups encounter specific challenges and barriers? If so, which ones? The narrow definition of innovation is strongly connotated to male branches and sectors, which results in lack of innovation potential in other, more female dominated branches and sectors.

The global landscape for women in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship continues to present significant barriers to scaling businesses and achieving financial success. Despite the rising number of women pursuing careers in these fields, they still encounter systemic challenges, such as limited access to funding, networks, and leadership opportunities.

1. I would be very interested in seeing reliable statistics or reports on gender inequalities within the ERA or other EU institutions. 2. Given the ambition of the vision - to make the ERA the worlds most attractive place for women to work in research, innovation, and startups by 2030 - I would like to know what strategic and specific goals are planned to achieve this within the next four years.

The European funding gap persists. Across Europe, women-founded companies receive a fraction of available venture capital, with most member states allocating less than 5% to women-led startups. Progress varies significantly by country, demonstrating that policy environments matter. In the Netherlands, the Code-V report i.c.w.

This contribution is informed by my experience as a clinician-scientist, form my position as chair of the Women in Lymphoma (WiL) initiative, and by findings from an international workforce survey conducted by WiL. Although focused on hematology, the results reflect structural dynamics common across research, innovation and startup ecosystems. 1. Do women encounter specific challenges and barriers? Yes.

"34% representation = 66% of potential genius left on the table. This isn't just about equality, it's about excellence. The most innovative teams are diverse teams. The most groundbreaking discoveries come from varied perspectives.Ready to contribute insights on: Structural barriers women face in research pathways Innovation in creating inclusive environments Real solutions that have worked at ground level.

The Gender Equality Commission (GEC) of the Council of Europe steers the Council of Europes intergovernmental work in the field of gender equality in line with the Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 and ensures the mainstreaming of gender equality into all Council of Europe policies to bridge the gap between commitments made at international level and the reality of women in Europe.

Thank you for this important initiative. This feedback is to share a few subjects. a) DEI b) Research c) Experience ad. A. DEI elements are broad, coming from a business world into an academic world and vv is bringing tensions and this is not a strong unity. Many recommendations to share. ad.B.

I am Marilena Maniaci, a full professor for over twenty years, a mother of adolescent twins, and a member of the governing board of the Italian Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research. I offer this contribution from the perspective of someone who has combined long-term academic leadership with sustained caregiving responsibilities, navigating a career shaped both by institutional demands and by…

All the efforts are already Done & created à concept for Big Rich comoanies With Sustainablility in focus to just include the result from Horizon Europe Brokeage 2026 & Euipo & WIPO. I have been retired during all years from July 2008.

Why Veendam + University of Groningen + Quantum Matter ️ Quantum technology is moving from theory to real-world impact but only if people, skills, and local ecosystems are ready. Thats why a collaboration between Veendam and the University of Groningen is essential: Quantum & Green Skills Flexible work (913) allows people to study in the afternoon and build skills in quantum, data, AI, and sustainability ️.

As an entrepreneur and investor I have set up Mitochondrial Capital to support female founders to get investments. Getting investments for women is not only a huge problem but also a huge opportunity, since new businesses based on half of the population potentially create a lot of additional economic value. We should embrace this opportunities within the EU.