Explained

Gender equality is a core value of the European Union. The European Commission's wider commitment to gender equality in all EU policies includes also promoting gender equality in research and innovation (R&I).

Gender equality has been a priority of the European Research Area (ERA) since 2012. Since 2020, the ERA has opened to inclusive gender equality, addressing multiple forms of discrimination, including the intersection of gender and other grounds of discrimination, and promoting sectoral and geographical inclusiveness.

The ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 prioritises gender equality through its structural policy 'Strengthening gender equality and inclusiveness in the ERA, notably with an intersectional approach'. This policy addresses emerging issues such as gender budgeting and expenditures tracking in R&I, while also building on previous ERA Policy Agenda achievements, with a new emphasis on implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

In the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024, gender equality was addressed through the specific action 'Promoting gender equality and fostering inclusiveness'. It focused on establishing and maintaining policy coordination and support for inclusive gender equality plans and policies, exemplified by projects such as GENDERACTIONplus. It contributed to combating gender-based violence in the European R&I system through the development of the Code of Conduct on Zero-Tolerance, with implementation support from the GenderSAFE project. Additionally, efforts were directed at strengthening gender mainstreaming in R&I content, including the creation of a guidance document, as well as at gender mainstreaming in the ERA.

Horizon Europe supports the implementation of this ERA priority through a number of provisions. For example, certain categories of organisations wishing to receive funding are required to have a gender equality plan. The inclusion of a gender dimension in the R&I content is now mandatory and evaluated under the excellence criterion, and gender balance is promoted throughout the programme. In addition, Horizon Europe provides funding for projects and activities that promote inclusive gender equality in R&I, including by conducting research on gender and intersectionality, monitoring, developing tools, organising training or coordinating networks and providing advice on gender equality in R&I.

Details of such specific projects and activities can be found on this page.

Resources and tools

She Figures 2024

The She Figures report serves as a key source of comparable, Europe-wide statistics on gender equality in Research and Innovation. It traces the ‘career trajectory’ of both women and men, from completing doctoral studies to entering the workforce to advancing into leadership and decision-making positions in academia.

Gender Equality in Academia and Research - GEAR tool

GEAR tool has provided guidance and advice on gender equality work in R&I since 2015. See the updated tool considering the GEP eligibility criterion in Horizon Europe.

Approaches to inclusive gender equality in research and innovation

Report on emerging practices and policies at EU and national levels.

How to set up an inclusive gender equality plan

Offers insights and strategies to integrate diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality into gender equality policies, providing practical guides, toolkits, educational materials, and best practices. Aimed at assisting individuals, organisations, and communities in fostering inclusive gender equality. By Horizon Europe project INSPIRE.

Gendered innovations 2 - How inclusive analysis contributes to research and innovation

Contains definitions of terms and methods relating to sex, gender and intersectional analysis, interdisciplinary case studies displaying how to integrate the gender dimension into various fields of research and innovation, and concrete policy recommendations.