Moving away from traditional STI - How to improve gender equality and inclusivity in STI?

This study is a research in progress, and we are in the middle of data analysis. However, we are able to offer preliminary insights, which indicate that the case context of international STI dialogues serves to take into account the context and culture dependent insights related to inclusiveness. For example, the survey results suggest that concerns related to gender equality in R&D&I content are aligned between Europe and third countries, although slight differences were identified in priorities regarding the implementation of gender equality. Similarly, the group interviews indicate how important move from gender balance to inclusiveness is in STI dialogues, even though some third countries will greatly benefit of, for example, gender quotas in research that is reflected through more quantitative indicators.   

Informed by the qualitative analysis, which acknowledges the need for strengthening gender equality in STI policy and for the implementation of inclusive practices in research and innovation processes, we aim to create a framework for assessing inclusion in R&D&I in practical work. Such framework will be designed for assessing, but also prompting reflections on how researchers and innovators can embed inclusiveness in each stage of the research and innovation process. Starting from the definition of research questions until the dissemination of research results. The potential indicators can be linked to self-reflective questions focused on diversity in a broader sense and gender equality specifically, such as Can certain features of the technology design reinforce existing inequalities and discriminatory practices in terms of age, sex, gender identity and ethnicity? and Have you taken into consideration gender inequalities such as access to resources, roles, time availability and control of financial assets as part of your innovation’s implementation plan?

Hence, the importance of developing inclusiveness indicators for R&D&I lays on the capacity of these indicators to serve as tool for self-reflection of gender and inclusion. We understand that improved capabilities of inclusiveness will improve the gender equality in R&D&I by tackling the underlying structures and mind-sets and hopefully breaking the often unintentionally replicated gender biases.