Horizon 2020 : closing gender gaps in research & innovation.
Date: 2020-10-01
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: gender equality, participation of women, research body, research staff

HORIZON 2020

Closing 

gender 
gender 

gaps in
Research and Innovation

Equality between women and men
is a fundamental principle of the EU treaties. 

We all beneﬁt when…

women scientists and 
innovators can contribute to R&I 
with their skills and knowledge

research includes sex and 
gender analysis
(gender dimension)

results and innovations
are relevant to both
men and women

Gender gaps are diminishing in 
R&I, but a lot more remains to be 
done to achieve gender equality.

Average unadjusted pay gap in
research & development(1)

Women in R&I

17%

Heads of higher-education 
institutions(2)

Top-level researchers
(grade A)(2)

Researchers(3)

PhD graduates(3)

22%

24% 

33%

48%

women

men

Women board 
members in 
research 
organisations(2)

27%

Women authorship 
of scientiﬁc 
publications(2)

32%

Inventors

Women entrepreneurs

9% 

Patent applications with 
women registered as inventors(2)

31%

Women 
entrepreneurs(4)

The European Commission is committed to achieving
gender equality and supports institutional change 
through the implementation of Gender Equality Plans

To further improve gender balance in Horizon 2020,
more women experts and experts with gender expertise are needed.
Keep on registering and clearly indicate your gender expertise. 
Expert database: http://europa.eu/!Nu49yu

Research teams 

10

gender balance is a ranking factor 
when evaluating research proposals 
that received the same score

training on gender knowledge is 
an eligible cost

Evaluation panels and 
advisory groups

Targets set for

expert groups and evaluation panels
40% of the under-represented sex

advisory groups
50% of the under-represented sex

Women's participation

Women's participation

41%

project 
workforce(5)
project participation, 
including 
non-researchers

29% women 

coordinators
of projects(5)

55%

42%

advisory 
groups(6) 

evaluation 
panels(5) 

Take care of the needs/interests of both
men and women when you prepare research and innovation projects.

Gender dimension in research and innovation content

2020 work programme:

/343 

 topics for call for proposals

125
have an explicit gender dimension
in health, transport, food, secure societies, industrial leadership…

(1) ESTAT/JUST (included She Figures 2018)
(2) She Figures 2018
(3) ESTAT
(4) EC Statistical Data on Women Entrepreneurs in Europe
(5) CORDA
(6) HORIZON 2020 in full swing - Three years on I Key facts and ﬁgures 2014-2016

EU Prize for Women Innovators
for the most innovative women entrepreneurs
across all sectors

2021

2020

2011-2020

seven contests:
743 applications 
75 ﬁnalists
25 winners* 

2019

2017

2016

2014

2011

Rising
Innovator
young innovator 

inspiring 
others

strong
role models

innovative
companies

More: www.ec.europa.eu/women-innovators

RTD-WOMEN-INNOVATORS@ec.europa.eu 

Changing research organisations

Horizon 2020 also funds Gender Equality Plans 
for research organisations and universities

GEPs are full-ﬂedged strategies including a gender audit of the 
organisation’s practices, the implementation of measures and 
targets to address inequalities, and the monitoring of progress.

Learn more with the GEAR tool

Participant portal 
http://europa.eu/!vj67RD

Gender policy webpage
http://europa.eu/!mq76    qm

Gender Equality Strategy
http://europa.eu/!Mn73xr

The impact of sex and gender in the 
coronavirus pandemic
https://europa.eu/!cQ36fk 

@EUScienceInnov
@EU_H2020
#EqualityInResearch
#UnionOfEquality
#WIPrizeEU

Research and 
Innovation

@EUScienceInnov

RTD-GENDERINRESEARCH@ec.europa.eu

/

0
8
1
2
5
7
7
7
2
0
1

.

:
i

o
d

|

6
-
6
3
4
1
2
-
6
7
-
2
9
-
8
7
9
N
B
S

I

|

N
-
N
E
-
6
4
6
-
0
2
-
2
0
-
I
K

—

0
2
0
2

,

i

n
o
n
U
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E
©