Innovation is not neutral. Who creates it, whose perspectives are considered, and who benefits — these elements all shape whether research and innovation processes and outcomes truly serve society.

On 22 November 2024, the INSPIRE project and the

“There wasn’t a specific “aha!” moment, but there were many “Let’s do it!” moments” – if we could summarise our Knowledge Exchange Event in Vienna, we would use this phrase, which we've heard at the end, when we were drawing our conclusions.  

This past autumn, the INSPIRE team gathered in Vienna at the invitation of our partners at JOANNEUM RESEARCH for almost 4 days filled with thoughtful conversations, constructive debates, moments of reflection and plans for the future, but also valuable connections, shared joy(s), and the obligatory Schnitzel. 😊

On October 24th and 25th, the Institute of Sociology and the Department of Security, Safety and Equal Treatment at Jagiellonian University (JU) hosted a comprehensive training session on Monitoring and Evaluation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in Kraków.

The KSH2 ‘Widening Participation’ aims to transform gender equality within Research and Innovation (R&I) organisations across Europe and Latin America by supporting the creation of Inclusive Gender Equality Plans (IGEPs).

A few weeks ago, our Knowledge & Support Hub (KSH) on Intersectionality participated in the European Conference of Politics and Gender in Ghent.

Summer may be in full swing in Europe, but our partners are still as active as ever in promoting the valuable work we are doing in INSPIRE! 

The political priorities and joint actions of the European Commission in research and innovation have seen a shift in focus from ‘gender equality plans’ to ‘inclusive gender equality plans’ in recent years.

INSPIRE will host a workshop consisting of two training sessions dedicated to the Gender Equality Audit and Monitoring (GEAM) tool, on 29 and 31 May 2024, from 2 to 5 PM CEST, via Zoom. The link will be provided to participants upon registration via email.

The INSPIRE team is excited to invite you to one of its Knowledge & Support Hubs (KSH) events! This time, KSH4, dealing with gendered innovations in the private sector and led by our partners Fraunhofer ISI and Joanneum Research, is organising a kick-off event for its Communities of Practice. 

INSPIRE is currently accepting applications from external institutions and companies interested in participating in the evaluation of the project’s activities. The evaluation aims to identify strengths and weaknesses, providing evidence-based recommendations for enhancing INSPIRE’s goal of becoming a sustainable center of excellence.

In a world striving for gender equality, it is vital to have tools that help organisations navigate the path toward balance and fairness. The Gender Equality Audit and Monitoring (GEAM) tool can provide the necessary insights to identify disparities, track progress, and implement effective policies. 

Exploring the GEAM Tool

Earlier this month, the INSPIRE Conference in Budapest gathered more than 70 brilliant minds from around the world, coming together to dive into critical themes like gender equality, intersectionality, and Gender Equality Plans (GEPs).

In the context of INSPIRE, Communities of Practice (CoPs) are key to building capacity for change, for two reasons: 

What if we told you that the news about our project has reached the other side of the world? 

That's right, our partners are always enthusiastic to discuss the project's objectives in various events around the world - after all, the discussions on gender equality measurement and intersectionality are not limited to a particular region, but they are happening on a global scale. 

Since the publication of the ETAN report in 2000 by the European Commission, much research has been devoted to understanding the reasons for and the consequences of the underrepresentation of women in research.  

A virtual exhibition where you can interact with visitors and present your project's work - who would have thought this was possible only a few decades ago? But luckily for us, technology is working in our favour this time, allowing us to network with similar initiatives from across the globe, create valuable partnerships, and gather inspiration. 

A little update from our team: we've just got back to our homes after a few days in Slovenia, as the INSPIRE team had the opportunity to meet again in person, and this time right in the heart of Europe, in green and charming Ljubljana!

To support the implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs), foster the co-development of innovative practices and training, INSPIRE will bring together practitioners and academics in the field of Gender Equality in Research and Innovation and set up four Knowledge & Support Hubs (KSHs):

As coordinators of the concluding H2020 project SPEAR, we had the great opportunity to use the occasion of SPEAR’s final conference to make a dream come true: gather what we have come to appreciate as a growing and steadily strengthening community of Gender Equality (GE) practitioners, scholars, leaders and policy-makers for

How does the future look like for gender equality in research and innovation? 

The simple answer is that the future will look however we make it look. If we join forces, coordinate our efforts, and are persistent in our approach, we will create a more inclusive research and innovation environment.

Every year, towards the end of April, we are celebrating the International Day of Girls in ICT - a recognition of the women and girls who have defied stereotypes and pursued careers in technology and a chance for us to reflect on what should be done to encourage more young women to explore this area. 

There is no better feeling than celebrating International Women's Day alongside partners and sister projects who share your belief in women's empowerment and work on building a fair world for women in Europe and beyond! 

One of our sister projects, the Horizon 2020 project SPEAR, is approaching its end, and we were lucky enough to be among the participants in its final conference.

The launch of INSPIRE, the much-awaited Centre of Excellence on Inclusive Gender Equality in Research & Innovation.