[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/9329\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWomen-led innovative tech startups take centre stage\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EDutch entrepreneur Josefien Groot always dreamed big. Determined to be part of the generation that resolves climate change, she set her sights on a not so obvious business idea: yoga pants. Sure, these stretchy leggings may be comfy, but they are also, apparently, destroying the planet \u2013 releasing microplastic fibres in the wash and polluting the oceans.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EInspired to make the world a better place through sustainable products and practices at just 19 years old, Groot, a budding entrepreneur and go-getter, cofounded YogaChicks, selling yoga leggings made from recycled plastic bottles.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003EBut it was her next joint enterprise, Qlayers, that really raised the bar of innovation, especially in the maritime industry. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003EThis innovative robotic coating method uses shark-like microstructures to paint large industrial surfaces, such as ships, storage tanks, and wind turbines. It does so automatically, efficiently, safely and quickly, and it reduces the wasted paint that causes pollution. It\u2019s a real game changer for large industries embracing the green transition. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGreen applications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThese high-tech green applications have won the startup many international awards and even won Groot the 2020 EU Prize for Women Innovators in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/research-and-innovation\/funding\/funding-opportunities\/prizes\/eu-prize-women-innovators\/2020_en\u0022\u003ERising Innovator\u003C\/a\u003E category, given to the most promising women innovators under-35.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003ELaunched by the European Commission in 2011, the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/news\/eu-prize-women-innovators-2022-now-open-applications-2022-03-08_en\u0022\u003EEU Prize for Women Innovators \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003Eis one of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003Ethe best examples of the efforts aimed at boosting innovative women entrepreneurs, recognising their achievements and inspiring others.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETo mark the European Year of Youth, the EU will be awarding not one, but three prizes of \u20ac50 000 in the Rising Innovators category in addition to three prizes in the Women Innovators category, each worth \u20ac100 000.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ELooking back, Groot, says she is \u2018honoured and grateful\u2019 to have received the Rising Innovator award, calling it \u2018an absolutely great recognition,\u2019 especially as she cofounded Qlayers while studying for her master\u2019s degree in Complex Systems Engineering and Management.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen asked how gender inclusiveness in tech entrepreneurship has changed since her innovation journey began, Groot says she welcomes how gender-inclusiveness has become more mainstream today in her home country. \u2018Our generation, especially in the Netherlands, is very focused on inclusion,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018More and more people see the benefits of diversity when it comes to stimulating innovation and creativity,\u2019 she said. \u2018These days, companies really try to focus on diversity, where gender equality is just a part of it.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ENow at 27, Groot continues to drive change through the power of innovative entrepreneurship.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Innovation means change, and we need change in order to improve our world when it comes to sustainability, social equality and living in harmony with nature and our surroundings,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EInnovation means change, and we need change in order to improve our world when it comes to sustainability, social equality and living in harmony with nature and our surroundings.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EJosefien Groot, co-founder and CEO of Qlayers\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBridging the gap\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EOver the past two years, the number of women-led startups receiving funding from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/index_en\u0022\u003EEuropean Innovation Council\u003C\/a\u003E (EIC) has grown from 8% to 29%.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003E\u2018My goal is 40% and I\u2019m confident we can reach it this year,\u2019 said Mariya Gabriel, the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, marking \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/women-and-girls-in-science-day\u0022\u003EInternational Day of Women and Girls in Science\u003C\/a\u003E on 11 February 2022. This annual international event promotes the full participation of women and girls in science in a world where a significant gender gap exists at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003EThe significant number of applications to the new \u003C\/span\u003EWomen TechEU\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;call launched last year is evidence that the Commissioner\u2019s goal is within reach. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003ERiskiest time\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETo level the playing field, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/eic-funding-opportunities\/european-innovation-ecosystems\/women-techeu_en\u0022\u003EWomen TechEU\u003C\/a\u003E programme provides grants to women entrepreneurs during the early stages of their deep tech startups, which is the riskiest time, as well as access to coaching, mentoring, and networking opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EDeep tech is the kind of startup where significant engineer and technical breakthroughs overcome scientific challenges. It focuses on tackling societal and environmental issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ECommissioner Gabriel announced the first 50 beneficiaries of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/eic-funding-opportunities\/european-innovation-ecosystems\/women-techeu_en\u0022\u003Ethe Women TechEU programme\u003C\/a\u003E on 1 March 2022.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe selected women-led companies include a French startup developing new diagnostic tools to tackle sickle cell disease, an Austrian startup developing a transparent window film visible to birds that prevents them crashing into windows, and an Italian startup, building innovative machine learning applications, amongst others.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe 50 companies won grants worth \u20ac75 000 each, as well as mentoring and coaching through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/eic-funding-opportunities\/business-acceleration-services\/eic-women-leadership-programme_en\u0022\u003EEuropean Innovation Council (EIC) Women Leadership Programme\u003C\/a\u003E, in addition to other EU-wide networking opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile women represent half of the EU workforce and 41% (6.6 million) of the total scientists and engineers across the EU, they make up only a quarter of all those who are self-employed (own their own businesses) in particular in Information and communications technology (ICT), engineering and science in the EU, according to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/files\/she-figures-2021_en\u0022\u003EShe Figures 2021 report\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EUnfortunately, despite many gains over the last decade (albeit with some pandemic-linked disruptions), women represent less than 20% of senior management in deep tech start-ups that have raised seed funding, with Chief Technical Officer (CTO) positions \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/2020.stateofeuropeantech.com\/\u0022\u003Estagnating at 1% for the last 3 years\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGender-inclusive mindsets\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETwo projects funded under Horizon 2020\u0026nbsp;aim at eliminating inequality in entrepreneurship are already taking the initiative.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/equals-eu.org\/\u0022\u003EEQUALS-EU\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is committed to promoting gender balance in the technology sector while \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/101006203\u0022\u003Eshemakes.eu\u003C\/a\u003E promotes parity in the textiles sector.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s important to look at the details when discussing the barriers that women innovators experience in leading, launching or receiving funding for their own innovative business, says Dr Anthony Giannoumis, an associate professor of Universal Design of ICT at Oslo Metropolitan University and coordinator of the EQUALS-EU project. Kicking-off in 2021, it promotes gender-inclusive mindsets in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to specifications for jobs or funding, for instance, even with demonstrable leadership skills, \u2018procedures around the world \u2013 such as the hiring process and many job ads \u2013 are often established in a way that are biased against women,\u2019 said Giannoumis. He notes how job specifications often don\u2019t take into account a woman\u2019s absence from the labour market due to childbirth or child rearing, for instance.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EProcedures around the world \u2013 such as the hiring process and many job ads - are often established in a way that are biased against women.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Anthony Giannoumis, Project coordinator for EQUALS EU\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EFurthermore, usually white men will be given \u2018the benefit of the doubt of either being able to learn on the job or having already known something that they may not have a firm grasp on or firm experience with,\u2019 Giannoumis, who is also the Vice Rapporteur for the UN International Telecommunications Union\u2019s (ITU) subcommittee on ICT Accessibility said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWomen may also face additional hurdles, such as a harassment culture, he notes. That \u2018affects women and their opportunities,\u2019 he said, quoting research from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.equalsintech.org\/\u0022\u003EEQUALS Global Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E, where he leads the research consortium of 19 organisations from a wide variety of sectors.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ENow, EQUALS-EU is mapping the specifics of gender-inclusive innovation ecosystems across 15 EU Member States and associated and third countries, Giannoumis said. The project also provides mentoring and resources, rolling out dozens of innovation camps, hackathons and bootcamps on gender-inclusive entrepreneurship \u2013 helping grassroots advocates and entrepreneurs develop their ideas and pitch them to investors.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We are reaching out to those who don\u2019t have a seat at the table \u2013 in ways that go beyond a one-day hackathon,\u2019 said Ayanna Samuels, an expert in gender equality in tech. The PhD candidate and assistant professor at Oslo Metropolitan University describes the impact of EQUALS-EU.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Putting candidates in front of serious investors in a safe and supportive space can really make a difference for participants. Investors often also act as mentors, while funding can be transformational to candidates\u2019 lives,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearning paths\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We believe that boys and girls are very familiar with innovation at a very early age,\u2019 said Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique Thureau, the coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/101006203\u0022\u003Eshemakes.eu\u003C\/a\u003E project focused on spurring gender-inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EProviding learning paths for girls and women \u2013 from the age of 9 right up to university age and beyond \u2013 is crucial to keeping the flame of innovation burning, said Thureau.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe project also aims at boosting the production know-how of young generations of women in innovative and sustainable textiles and clothing, and later helping them start and grow their own business, providing an integrated innovation system.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThureau\u2019s goal for the project, which currently oversees 18 labs across 16 EU countries, is to make \u2018more women feel entitled to become innovators,\u0027 said Thureau, who is also a marketing and business advisor to SMEs. The system should make women entrepreneurs \u0027feel empowered, supported, and feel that they are not alone.\u2019\u0027\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInspiring role models\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EPassion, vision, opportunity and inspiring role models are also key ingredients for Ana\u00efs Barut, the CEO and co-founder of French medtech company DAMAE. The company has revolutionised skin cancer diagnosis.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBarut developed an unobtrusive, handheld procedure that dermatologists can use to screen for skin cancer on the spot.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ENamed one of the ten best French innovators under 35 by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.technologyreview.com\/\u0022\u003EMIT Technology Review\u003C\/a\u003E in 2015, Barut is a role model for countless young women in Europe and beyond. She was featured in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/GabrielMariya\/status\/1352939887507468293?s=20\u0026amp;t=Vg5gBoWBA4_ZacJGyVRfvw\u0022\u003E#EUwomen4future\u003C\/a\u003E campaign launched by European Commissioner Gabriel in March 2020.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBarut has numerous role models of her own, including Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie, Gis\u00e8le Halimi, Frida Kahlo and Hannah Arendt.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018They are all exceptional, strong, determined women whose commitment has had such an enormous impact on our history,\u2019 said Barut. She is also an advocate of helping promote women\u2019s access to entrepreneurship through inclusive training programmes \u2018where projects led by women benefit from visibility, mentoring, and a close-knit and supportive network\u2019.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBarut added that \u2018since figures for fundraising by women founders of startups also illustrate undeniable inequalities, there is a need for more inclusive investment practices in the market.\u0027 Demonstrating the importance of bridging the gender-divide, she also points to studies that show how embracing \u2018gender diversity in business increases creativity, performance and growth.\u0027\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EGender diversity in business increases creativity, performance and growth.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EAna\u00efs Barut, CEO and co-founder of DAMAE\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETo this end, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/index_en\u0022\u003EEuropean Innovation Council (EIC)\u003C\/a\u003E will develop an innovation gender and diversity index, providing consistent information to the EIC, other investors and funding bodies, market actors and policy makers across Europe.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESuch information will include gender and diversity data for innovative start-ups and scale-ups as well as for investors and funds investing in such companies and should cover and be comparable across at least all Member States and associated countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThis information is currently missing or fragmented or collected according to different methodologies and definitions. Such an index will enable the identification of gender and diversity gaps, relevant measures to be designed, progress to be assessed, and better-informed investment decisions. It will also encourage diversity at all levels across the innovation ecosystem.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ELooking back on her motivation for her own innovation journey, Barut describes founding her company following studies at SupOptique, the engineering Grande Ecole of the Institut d\u0027Optique Graduate School: \u2018My desire to deepen the entrepreneurial aspect of my training has always been strong,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd the journey continues.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Becoming an entrepreneur in tech and particularly in health has been a constant motivation to push the limits of science. One of the first steps towards making it happen was to meet a lot of people and to surround myself with profiles that are extremely talented,\u2019 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-m-aqsqbqh1na10smrlosgdtdxxe3-xzd3rjtlkoam1g\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-M_aqsQBQh1nA10sMrLOSGdtdxxE3_xzD3rJtLKoaM1g\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]