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In the context of global efforts to promote gender equality across all spheres of society, the European Union has made significant strides through the research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe (2021-2027). This programme has not only been endowed with an unprecedented budget in the EU for fostering scientific excellence and global competitiveness but has also, for the first time, committed to the explicit integration of gender equality as an essential component of research and innovation. The aim of this post is to explore the progress made so far by Horizon Europe on gender policy matters, as well as the challenges it still faces during the second half of the programme.

Significant Progress

• Integration of Gender in Research: Horizon Europe has established gender equality as a cross-cutting criterion in all its research and innovation projects. This includes considering the gender dimension in the design, implementation, and analysis of studies, thus promoting more inclusive and representative research.
• Promotion of Female Participation: A concerted effort has been observed to increase the participation of women in leadership roles within projects funded by Horizon Europe. This aligns with the EU’s goal of achieving gender balance at all levels of decision-making and research.
• Gender Equality Plans: Horizon Europe has introduced the requirement for participating institutions to develop and implement gender equality plans. These plans must address issues such as the gender pay gap, gender balance in leadership positions, and the integration of the gender perspective in research and teaching.

Outstanding Challenges

• Implementation: Despite clear advances, the implementation of gender policies remains uneven among different Member States and types of institutions. The lack of homogeneity in the application of these policies limits their overall effectiveness.
• Funding Gaps: There is a growing concern about funding gaps that disproportionately affect projects led by women or those focusing on gender research. This suggests a need to review funding award criteria to ensure fairness.
• Impact: Although Horizon Europe has made significant progress, there remains the challenge of accurately measuring the real impact of gender policies on science and innovation. Developing more effective indicators and evaluation methods will be crucial for understanding and expanding the success of these initiatives.

In conclusion, Horizon Europe represents a significant step forward in the integration of gender equality into research and innovation at the European level. However, fully realising its gender objectives requires time and measures that improve and stabilise impact on society. As we move forward, it is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and institutions to work together to overcome these challenges, ensuring that gender equality becomes a reality in the European scientific landscape.