Ministers aim for equality in R&I

European research ministers are seeking to promote gender equality in research and innovation following an informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council.

Ministers met in Luxembourg on Tuesday under auspices of the country’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The research meeting was chaired by Marc Hansen, the country’s Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research.

Hansen drew attention to how the Luxembourg Presidency was paying particular attention to increasing the rate of female employment, and to a balanced representation of women and men in political and economic decision making. As the competition for recruiting the best talents is global, he said he believed that Europe must call on “its pool of well trained human capital in its entirety”. The minister also commented that there was “a marked under representation” of women in top positions and in decision making roles, according to statistics, in particular in the field of research.

According to the figures put forward by European Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas, who also attended the meeting, 47% of university graduates are women, but only 33% of researchers, 20% of university professors and 10% of university chancellors are women.

National delegations supported the work of the presidency, which hopes to pay particular attention to taking concrete action in promoting gender quality in R&I. Luxembourg said gender equality initiatives must seek to make real changes at institutional level and champion open recruitment procedures based on transparent and non-discriminatory assessment as well as selection procedures rooted in excellence.

Hansen commented: “The goal is to make real progress in attaining a better male-female balance, especially in positions of responsibility and management.” An exchange of good practices along with regular monitoring of action taken at national and supranational levels is deemed as “necessary”.

Moedas added that gender equality in the field of R&I is key, saying “Without equality, European research cannot claim to be a global reference point”. In his opinion, concrete “institutional change” is needed within universities, in respect of which the Commission seeks to address particular courses of action in its strategy for equality between women and men. This is in addition to its priorities in the field of research and innovation that will be based on the pillars of open science, open innovation and a gateway to the world.