Fighting for gender equality in research & science: What works?

Achieving gender equality in research and science is a long-term, systemic process. It requires reliable data, strong leadership, and the combined use of top-down and bottom-up approaches. It also depends on the active involvement of management and decision-makers, collaboration with gender experts, a reflexive and participatory approach to opening up dialogue across disciplines, genders, and career levels, and alignment with national and institutional contexts. Drawing from MINDtheGEPs experience, this policy brief offers a roadmap for organisations to make their gender equality efforts last, ensuring that they strengthen both wellbeing and research excellence producing ”happier” organisations and researchers.

MINDtheGEPs supported the design and implementation of Gender Equality Plans across 5 countries and 7 research-performing organisations from 2021 to 2025. The project used a feminist framework, guided by standpoint theory and intersectional approaches, conceptualising gender as a social structure. Through participatory training and self-reflection initiatives (within and across organisations), datadriven strategies, and the establishment of dedicated governance structures, the project promoted inclusive and sustainable approaches to gender equality.

MINDtheGEPs shows that achieving structural transformation requires more than policy instruments — it demands cultural shifts, organisational commitment, resources, and an integrated, participatory process to breaking down resistance and build consensus around the why and how of gender inequalities.

This policy brief was written for research performing organisations, the European Commission & the scientific community.