ACT Community Mapping Report: Cooperation, Barriers and Progress in Advancing Gender Equality in Research Organisations

This deliverable presents the results of the ACT community survey and subsequent analysis. The survey was conducted in order to gain knowledge on existing practices regarding gender equality in Research Performing and Research Funding Organisations, their networks as well as needs and support. Moreover, it aimed at identifying potential members of Communities of Practice (CoPs).

A Social Network Analysis (SNA) shows existing cooperation clusters and identifies central actors in the European landscape of research organisations. It also indicates regions that are so far disconnected from the European network and which are interested in becoming part of a CoP.

The reported barriers and consequent needs of survey respondents further provide important information for the ACT consortium to develop suitable support and helpful tools to promote and strengthen existing and future collaborations.

The survey mainly reached Higher Education Institutions, but also other research institutions, in almost all EU28 countries, which was the regional focus of the study. Half of the respondents are researchers, one third have a leading position and nearly one third hold a position like equal opportunities officer – all these three groups overlap. The interest in ACT turned out to be very high: More than half of the respondents want to become members of a Community of Practice.