Women in Research and Innovation: Articles to Listen to on Podcast

In a recent episode of Eurostat’s podcast, “Stats in a Wrap,” a relevant issue in the labor sector was discussed: gender inequalities, especially in the fields of research and innovation. Despite advancements in the fight for equality, data reveals that the career paths of men and women continue to be markedly different. Only 9% of innovators are women, while a surprising 90% of patent applications come from teams that are exclusively male or predominantly male.

The information presented in the program is based on statistics collected by Eurostat across Europe, with a particular emphasis on the report “She Figures,” a key document from the European Commission that analyzes gender equality in research and innovation. This report, which is produced every three years, uses data from Eurostat to illustrate and assess gender trends in these sectors.

During the episode, host Jonathan Elliot spoke with Marina Pérez Julián, gender statistics coordinator at Eurostat, and Daniela Enache, a statistician in the Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digitalization unit at Eurostat. They were joined by Anne Laure Humbert, a professor of gender and statistics at the University of Gothenburg, and Oriane Gilloz, a gender policy officer at the European Commission, who contributed their expertise to the analysis of these disparities.

The experts discussed the usefulness of Eurostat’s harmonized methodologies to identify regional disparities and highlight best practices that help understand wage gaps, access to leadership roles, and how caregiving responsibilities affect career trajectories. In this regard, the statistics not only reveal areas where inequalities persist but also identify the most disadvantaged groups and effective interventions.

The podcast also invites listeners to share suggestions on topics they would like to see addressed in future episodes, promoting active participation in the conversation surrounding gender equality.

Interested individuals can access all episodes on the Eurostat website and various streaming platforms, gaining critical insights into the ongoing struggle for equality in the fields of research and innovation.