1 DG Research – Science & Society Women and Science Johannes Klumpers DG Research - European Commission

2 1. How did “women and science” start at EU level? 2.What do we do to promote gender equality in European scientific research? 3.How do we monitor progress made? 4.What will happen in FP7?

3 An introduction to Women & Science Gender equality - Treaty of Amsterdam Article 2: “The Community shall have as its tasks… to promote … equality between men and women….” 1997 FP5 Mobilisation of women scientists Commission Communication (17 Feb 1999) Women & Science Action Plan (Policy Forum and Gender Watch System) Women & Science sector Council Resolution (20 May 1999) and EP Resolution (3 February 2000) Political support

4 An introduction to Women & Science (Part 2) 2001 Women & Science Unit Commission Staff Working Paper (W & S), 15 May 2001 Report on progress made Council Resolution on Science and Society and on Women in Science, 26 June 2001 Continued political support Science and Society Action Plan, December Women & Science Actions FP6 Report to Council and Parliament on progress, end 2004 Preparation for FP7

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6 Gender Equality Policy Why ? Improving scientific excellence within the European Research Area. How ? 1.Promoting the participation of women scientists in Framework Programme activities 2.Ensuring that the gender dimension is properly addressed in EU-funded research content.

7 Women & Science actions at European level Policy ForumGender Watch System Helsinki GroupWomen’s participation in FP - 40% target Statistics/IndicatorsIntegrating the gender dimension - Engendering work programmes - Gender in proposal life cycle - Gender Action Plans - Gender Monitoring studies - Women and Science Working Group Gender research - Research on gender and science European Platform WIR Enwise

8 Women & Science Call for Proposals 2004 ( Published 30 April 2004 ( Re-published 30 June 2004 in 20 languages ( Closing date 15 October 2004

9 Call structure WORK PROGRAMME REFERENCE HEADINGINSTRUMENT a) b) c) Stimulating the policy debate at national and regional level and mobilisation of women scientists - Empowerment and promoting public debate - Ambassadors for women and science - Women scientists in Eastern & Central Europe and Baltic States SSA a) b) c) d) Developing a better understanding of the gender issue in scientific research - Benchmarking policy measures - Gender bias and scientific excellence - New areas of data collection and analysis - Sociology, psychology, philosophy and history STREP, CA, SSA Promoting the enhancement of the Gender Watch System and associated activities to promote gender equality throughout the ERA - Practical tools for mainstreaming/monitoring STREP, CA, SSA

10 Gender equality is (at least) twofold: gender dimension of the research content promotion of gender equality by encouraging women’s participation GE = GD + WP GE: Gender Equality GD: Gender Dimension of the Research Content WP: Encouraging Women’s Participation Gender Equality

11 Integrating the gender dimension Gender Action Plan Proposers to explain:  Whether gender issues are associated with the subject of the research proposal  How they have been addressed in the research content

12 Why Gender Action Plans? To increase women’s participation at all levels of the research workforce. To allow a better understanding of the gender dimension in research. To raise gender awareness among different categories of actors. To highlight the responsibilities of all these actors in pursuing gender equality and implementing gender mainstreaming policies.

13 A good Gender Action Plan…..should be built around the 2 following steps: A diagnosis of current situation within Consortium Practical actions based on this diagnosis..should provide detailed information on actions to be undertaken - and monitored - to: Ensure equal opportunities in recruitment at all levels Encourage women to participate in all project activities, including management and scientific committees Integrate gender issues at all stages of research

14 Good Gender Action Plans? Gender Awareness Group or equivalent structure to encourage networking and mentoring amongst women researchers. Outreach activities such as girls days. Incentives (fellowships and training awards) for women scientists. Collect sex-disaggregated statistics of the research workforce. Address and monitor where relevant the specific gender aspects in the research.

15 Women’s participation (WP) in FP6 submitted proposals

16 Reaching the 40% target ?

17 Evaluating & Monitoring G.A.P.s No formal evaluation by external experts. Assessment by Women & Science Unit and recommendations for negotiation. Monitoring as part of general reporting for FP6 Still to be finalised Intermediate and final reporting Best practice guide

18 Future European Union support research – FP7* 1.Creating European centres of excellence through collaboration between laboratories 2.Launching European technological initiatives 3.Stimulating the creativity of basic research through competition between teams at European level 4.Making Europe more attractive to the best researchers– “the role and place of women in science and research” 5.Developing research infrastructure of European interest 6.Improving the coordination of national research programmes *COM (2004) 353, Brussels 16 June 2004Science and technology, the key to Europe's future – Guidelines for future European Union policy to support research

19 Future European Union support research – FP7* 1.Realising the potential of a Europe of 25 and more 2.Taking full advantage of complementarity with the Structural Funds 3.Supporting the Union’s political objectives 4.Space and security *COM (2004) 353, Brussels 16 June 2004Science and technology, the key to Europe's future – Guidelines for future European Union policy to support research

20 Future European Union support research – FP7 Research themes in FP7 “The European Commission is undertaking a process to identify thematic domains for future European support under the 7th Framework Programme. It is essential to identify those domains where support at European level is most needed and will have the greatest impact, as set out in the Communication Science and Technology, the key to Europe’s future – Guidelines fir future European Union policy to support research. This concerns those areas where thematic domains will be predetermined at the start of the Framework Programmes. This is particularly important for future support to transnational collaborative research.” ONLINE – CONSULTATION December 31

21 Future Priorities Women & Science 1.Improving scientific excellence by promoting gender awareness and fairness 2.Strengthening gender research and the gender dimension in research 3.Boosting the numbers of women in leading positions in European Research 4.Efficient Benchmarking and monitoring of gender mainstreaming policies and practices at national and european levels 5.Reconciling professional and private life: increasing the knowledge base and redressing work-life imbalances 6.Enhancing the role of women in engineering and innovation

22 General Information Register as an Expert Vademecum on Gender Mainstreaming in FP6 Gender and Excellence in the Making society/documents_en.html Gender impact studies - specific reports: She Figures society/documents_en.html