Gender equality as continuous practise of the project
Despite making up over half of EU higher education graduates, women still represent only 29% of doctoral graduates in science and engineering and only 9% of inventors in EU. Though the number of women scientists and engineers in the EU reached 8.2 million in 2025, more than doubling since 2008 – yet their share of the total workforce grew by less than 1% over the same period (Eurostat, 2026). In addition, women are better represented in lower grades of positions, but representation reduces as seniority increases (Eurostat, 2021). To challenge these persistent stereotypes and tap into the economic and innovative power of diversity, the NEO-CYCLE, Horizon Europe project, is taking active steps to empower women in advanced fields like materials science and sustainable engineering—proving that inclusive design is essential for building a sustainable future.
According to Ivan Kulchytskyy (Agency of European Innovations, Ukraine) project team is rather gender balanced. Fourteen NEO-CYCLE partners have gender equality plans (GEP), others have corresponding policies adopted. However, measures such as mandatory GEP or quotas for greater representation of women in decision-making bodies alone are not enough. While developing innovative solutions for the sustainable recovery and upcycling of critical raw materials from electronic waste NEO-CYCLE project showcases and advances the achievements of women in deep tech (advanced fields such as materials science, robotics, and sustainable engineering). Beyond formal compliance, the project actively promotes inclusion through dedicated guidelines for partners, ongoing monitoring of gender indicators, seminars and workshops, and the sharing of the best practices and success stories to inspire continuous improvement.
Workshop advancing women in deep tech
An online project workshop on Women’s Leadership Development in Engineering attracted around 40 participants, including representatives from research institutions, companies, NGOs, and public authorities across Europe. This workshop was an important step in commitment to inclusive innovation within the NEO-CYCLE project, exploring the main barriers and enabling factors that influence women’s transition into leadership roles, as well as the skills needed to shape the future of engineering and deep tech innovation.
Participants emphasized the value of bringing together women from different countries, sectors, and professional roles. Lead project coordinator María González-Moya Jimenez, Manager of the Resources & Environment Division at IDENER (Spain) notes that although participants came from diverse backgrounds, many share similar perspectives on key challenges and priorities. She also highlights the importance of creating more spaces like this to exchange experiences and ensure women’s voices are heard.
Advancing women’s leadership in the field is not just numbers, as senior researcher in environmental sciences Renata Dagiliūtė from Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania) reflects “we need to redefine leadership, not just aim for equality in the current model; women still have a little bit different leadership styles, with more empathy and other qualities, and that can shape new, better ways of leadership”.
The reasons behind the gender gap
Despite some progress, women continue to face a range of barriers in STEM, science and technology. Gender stereotypes remain a significant obstacle, shaping expectations and limiting opportunities for women and girls despite their equal potential to succeed. There is a social perception of women as service providers rather than researchers or engineers. Women also often face greater expectations to take on teaching, advising, administrative responsibilities in comparison with men colleagues. These stereotypes together with implicit bias can influence educational choices and self-confidence from an early age, affecting participation in STEM fields throughout the career pathway.
Studies also report that men in STEM teams are still more likely to be assigned complex and high-profile tasks, reflecting persistent gender bias in task allocation and career development opportunities. In addition, women’s work is often evaluated more critically than that of their male colleagues, which can affect career progression and recognition.
The benefits of gender equality in STEM and science
Gender equality in STEM is seen not only as a social and legal priority, but also as an economic necessity in the context of ongoing social, economic, and climate changes. Study by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) suggests that closing the gender gap in STEM education could contribute to economic growth in the European Union, increasing GDP per capita by 0.7–0.9% by 2030 and 2.2–3.0% by 2050. Improving gender balance contributes to economic development by expanding the skilled labour force, increasing productivity, and reducing the loss of talent in key scientific and technological fields.
Beyond economic effects, women’s participation in STEM and deep tech brings benefits to innovation and organizational performance. “When people with different backgrounds and experiences contribute to the same challenge, the quality of discussions improves, blind spots are reduced, and the resulting solutions are more relevant to society’s needs” – says project work package (WP) leader, Manager of Hydrometallurgical recycling and raw materials chemistry group at Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, Sandra Pavón Regaña sharing her reinforced belief that diversity is a key asset for scientific excellence. Elena Picazo Camilo, Chemical Engineering Department Manager from EcoCastulum (Spain), also emphasizes that equality is a core principle for responsible and sustainable innovation, particularly „in deep tech and circular economy projects such as NEO-CYCLE, diverse teams are essential identify risks, challenge assumptions and creating technologies that respond better to diverse societal expectations”.
As digital and green transition is reshaping industries, labour markets, and research priorities, creating demand for scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and highly skilled professionals, ensuring equal participation of women in science, technology and innovation becomes more important than ever.
