29. November 2012 13:00
European Gender Summit now underway in the European Parliament
A full-house event taking place over two days in the European Parliament, Brussels, the European Gender Summit gathers together key stakeholders from across the research, academic and policy spheres to call for science excellence through an awareness of gender issues.
The varied and high-level programme kicks off at 1pm on Thursday with a crucial session called Aligning Policy Agendas. Both Maire Geoghegan Quinn, Commissioner for Research and Innovation and Oldřich Vlasák, Vice-President of the European Parliament, responsible for Science and Technology Options Assessment will participate. They will be joined by representatives from the European Science Foundation, the Joint Research Centre, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology and genSET.
Today’s five sessions will be followed by a networking cocktail this evening and seven further sessions tomorrow.
This is the European Gender Summit’s second year. In 2012, the Summit’s focus is on reiterating the importance of including gender in EU science and innovation policy, specifically Horizon 2020, the European Research Area and the Innovation Union. Over the next two days, the Summit will present the latest gender research evidence, showcase examples of initiatives for achieving structural change and improving the quality of research and innovation, and will explore how the gender equality agendas of European and national players can be aligned to enhance science’s contribution to improving the lives of Europe’s citizens.
The Summit will also launch the development of a European gender equality standard - a guideline for better research and innovation practices. This standard will become an invaluable tool for research institutions, funding organisations, industry innovation drivers and policy makers alike. Moreover, it will help in the concrete implementation of the gender equality objectives in the new European Framework programme for research and innovation - HORIZON 2020.
“The multi-stakeholder dialogue promoted by the Gender Summit will help redefine the research and innovation landscape to give women and men an equal role in research and society, as co-owners and co-solvers of Europe’s societal challenges.” Britta Thomsen, Member of the European Parliament.
For more information: catherine.castledine[at]fleishmaneurope.com
ENDS
Notes for Editors
About ESF
The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an independent, non-governmental organisation that promotes collaboration in scientific research, funding of research and science policy across Europe. Its members are 72 national funding and research-performing organisations and learned societies from 30 countries. www.esf.org
The European Science Foundation and genSET are co-convenors of the European Gender Summit.
