Gender (in EU Research and Innovation)

EU research and innovation supports understanding how gender plays a vital role addressing diverse needs of citizens, how it interrelates with the knowledge, technology and innovations produces. The gender dimension implies analysing and taking into account the possible differences between men and women (biological characteristics as well as the social and cultural features), boys and girls, or males and females, in the R&I content of the project. Integrating such a dimension is a mandatory requirement in R&I projects across Horizon Europe unless specified otherwise. It is evaluated under the “excellence” criterion.

Horizon Europe projects shall for gender balance at all levels of personnel, the balance between the number of female and male researchers involved in proposals is one of the ranking criterions for proposals with the same score. Gender balance is also targeted in evaluation and expert panels.

Most participants to Horizon Europe projects need to have Gender Equality Plans (GEP), committing to promote gender equality in the respective organisations. Having a GEP is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments from EU Member States and Associated Countries (i.e. including the Western Balkans). A GEP must meet four mandatory process-related requirements: 

1. Public document: The GEP must be a formal document published on the institution’s website, signed by the top management, and actively communicated within the institution. 
2. Dedicated resources: a GEP must have dedicated resources and expertise in gender equality to implement the plan. 
3. Data collection and monitoring: organisations must collect sex/ gender disaggregated data on personnelhttps://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/ffcb06c3-200a-11ec-bd8e-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-232129669 (and students, for the establishments concerned) with annual reporting based on indicators. 
4. Training: The GEP must also include awareness-raising and training actions on gender equality. 

In addition to these four mandatory requirements, there are five recommended content-related (thematic) areas that organisations may wish to consider in their GEP: 

1. Work-life balance and organisational culture 
2. Gender balance in leadership and decision-making 
3. Gender equality in recruitment and career progression 
4. Integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching content 
5. Measures against gender-based violence, including sexual harassment