Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Programme 2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-12-13

Description

Description (EN):

FEMINA partners believe that increased female participation can make high-tech SMEs more competitive. This belief, based on academic studies and practical experience, must become part of mainstream policy. The gender gap is still visible in high-tech sectors across EU-28: women represented 29% of entrepreneurs in 2014 and 32.5% of employees in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services in 2015. This is not a question of social inclusion. It is about economic growth: studies show that the women’s specific skills can help to diversify and consolidate enterprises; that closing the gender gap could generate an EU GDP increase of 13%. In this context, FEMINA partners cooperate at interregional level to reach their overall aim: to ensure that selected policy instruments are integrated with measures to promote female engagement in their high-tech sectors, with a focus on sectors in their RIS3. FEMINA considers how to identify, implement, monitor and evaluate policy measures that break down barriers to female high-tech entrepreneurship, to employment and career progression in high-tech SMEs and to the gender dimension of innovation in funding schemes for high-tech start-ups and SMEs. Policy improvements are foreseen through specific projects funded to address these barriers, through improved policy management (e.g. gender criteria in monitoring) and through strategic focus, whereby partners work to include female participation in high-tech as a fundamental principle of their policies for SME competitiveness. FEMINA’s main outputs are Action Plans, detailing these desired changes, which partners and selected stakeholders will implement and monitor over a 2-year period. The results of this implementation will benefit SMEs and the territory. An increase in female participation in high-tech entrepreneurship, employment and leadership should establish a culture of gender parity in these sectors, with impact on inclusive growth and regional competitiveness.

Achievements (EN):

In terms of activities, the project has organised a total of 59 policy learning events. It has also identified 10 good practices, produced 6 action plans and led to the increased capacity of 56 people. In terms of results, the project has succeeded in improving 5 regional development policies for a total amount of funds influenced of EUR 142,141. 90.

Website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/interreg-europe-2014-2020

Expected Results (EN):

FEMINA’s overall objective is to ensure that selected policy instruments for enterprise support are integrated with measures to promote female engagement in regions’ high-tech sectors. Thus, FEMINA works towards a medium-term objective of supporting a measurable and significant increase in female participation in high-tech entrepreneurship, employment and leadership. This should lead to a change in attitude, recognising added value that women bring, and to a long-term objective of establishing a culture of gender parity in these sectors, with impact on inclusive growth and regional competitiveness. FEMINA achieves these aims through interregional learning to help policy makers address the complex gender gap causes. FEMINA’s sub-objectives are to identify, implement, monitor and evaluate policy measures to break down barriers to: 1. Entrepreneurship: female entrepreneurial rate lags behind in all EU Member States (currently 31% of entrepreneurs in all sectors) and hides an unexploited growth and prosperity potential. Barriers include lack of training, concerns for financial risk, family / work balance and access to finance. 2. Employment and career progression in high-tech SMEs: factors for low participation and slow progression of women in high-tech companies include low proportion studying STEM subjects, workplaces not conducive to work-life balance, lack of female role models, networks, and mentors, failure of high-tech companies to identify and develop talent. These are indicators of a deeply rooted gendered culture. SMEs’ characteristics (size, financial insecurity) tend to aggravate this. 3. Gender dimension of innovation: though the EU is committed to integrating gender into R&I, there is still much to be done at EU level and, even more so, at regional level. Public authorities must consider how to include sex and gender analysis in the methodology, content and impact assessment of applied research and of funding schemes for high-tech start-ups and SMEs.

Expected Outputs (EN):

FEMINA’s outputs are summarised as follows: • 1 Virtual Kick off meeting, getting the project started; • 6 Regional Stakeholder Groups created to provide input to interregional exchange, each with at least 1 workshops per semester in Phase 1 (total 36); • 8 FEMINA Conventions in Phases 1 & 2 (including expert seminars, partner exchange/feedback and GP transfer sessions), each with reports and relevant material; • 2 FEMINA reports, one describing the finding of work related to understanding barriers (Month 12) and the other to understanding solutions (Month 24), including publishable summaries; • At least 12 Policy GPs related to communication and awareness raising tools, soft support and dedicated structures and / or economic and financial support that have provide successful in reducing barriers to female entrepreneurship, female participation in high-tech SMEs and gender dimensions of innovation; • 6 regional Action Plans, designed with and validate by regional stakeholders, describing how to integrate gender dimensions and measures into selected policy instruments (defined by end Phase 1, implemented / monitored in Phase 2, with influence on funding); • 6 mentoring groups (1 per Action Plan) ensuring quality, feasibility and relevance of Action Plans, through distance support and 1 Mentoring Group visit per Action Plan (total 6); • Increased capacity in design, implementation and monitoring of policy instruments with clear gender dimensions among min. 50 people (estimates including partner staff and stakeholders); • Communication outputs (1 Communication Plan; 1 web page (on Interreg Europe site), with social media; 2 public events (1 in Phase 1/1 in Phase2); 50 media appearances; 1 poster, regional activities); • Management outputs (1 Subsidy Contract; 1 Partnership Agreement; 8 Progress Reports; 9 Steering Group Meetings; 1 final report). Thanks to outputs and interregional activities, expected short term project results (in addition to indicators in section C.6.2) in the FEMINA regions are: • Greater capacity among partner and stakeholders (estimated 50) and awareness among wider public on socio-economic benefits of gender parity in high-tech start-ups, SMEs and their innovation agenda; • 6 Policy instruments improved thanks to new measures to mainstream gender into all policy areas and to implement specific gender oriented measures for entrepreneurship and SMEs in high-tech sectors; • More and better targeted public funding, thanks to better use of ERDF ROP and other funding (see estimated amount, Section C.6.2) to reduce the gender gap in high-tech companies, with a real impact on their levels of competitiveness. The mid to long term results fit within the overall project objective of promoting inclusive, smart regional competitiveness. Regions that improve policy instruments thanks to project results should support their S3 high-tech sectors to become more competitive in their processes and products thanks to greater gender equality.

Thematic information

Social inclusion and equal opportunities SME and entrepreneurship

Specific Objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC programmes, supporting SMEs in all stages of their life cycle to develop and achieve growth and engage in innovation

Thematic Objective: (03) enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs by:

Investment Priority: (03d) supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Arezzo Innovazione Fondazione di Partecipazione

Department: N/A

Address: VIA SPALLANZANI 23, 52100 Arezzo, Italy

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 392 582.00

ERDF budget: EUR 333 694.70

CMO STAMM

Name: CMO STAMM

Department: N/A

Address: Laan Corpus den Hoorn 100-2, 9728JR Groningen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.cmostamm.nl

Total budget: EUR 130 364.00

ERDF budget: EUR 110 809.40

Region Dalarna

Name: Region Dalarna

Department: N/A

Address: Myntgatan 2, 791 51 Falun, Sweden

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.regiondalarna.se

Total budget: EUR 132 053.00

ERDF budget: EUR 112 245.05

ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΚΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ ΜΕΣΩ ΤΟΥ ΕΙΔΙΚΟΥ ΛΟΓΑΡΙΑΣΜΟΥ ΚΟΝΔΥΛΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ (ΕΛΚΕ/ΟΠΑ)

Name: ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΚΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ ΜΕΣΩ ΤΟΥ ΕΙΔΙΚΟΥ ΛΟΓΑΡΙΑΣΜΟΥ ΚΟΝΔΥΛΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ (ΕΛΚΕ/ΟΠΑ)

Address: 46 Kefallinias str., 11251 Athens, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.rc.aueb.gr

Total budget: EUR 138 755.00

ERDF budget: EUR 117 941.75

Global Center of Excellence (GCE) Node

Name: Global Center of Excellence (GCE) Node

Department: N/A

Address: Tordenskjoldsgate 9, N-4612 Kristiansand, Norway

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.gcenode.no

Total budget: EUR 174 165.00

SODERCAN - Sociedad para el Desarrollo Regional de Cantabria

Name: SODERCAN - Sociedad para el Desarrollo Regional de Cantabria

Department: N/A

Address: c\Isabel Torres 1. Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.sodercan.es

Total budget: EUR 61 194.00

ERDF budget: EUR 52 014.90

CAMERA DI COMMERCIO INDUSTRIA ARTIGIANATO E AGRICOLTURA DI AREZZO- SIENA

Name: CAMERA DI COMMERCIO INDUSTRIA ARTIGIANATO E AGRICOLTURA DI AREZZO- SIENA

Department: N/A

Address: VIA SPALLANZANI, 25, 52100 Arezzo, Italy

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.as.camcom.it/

Total budget: EUR 74 615.00

ERDF budget: EUR 63 422.75

Dirección General de Igualdad, COMUNIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE CANTABRIA

Name: Dirección General de Igualdad, COMUNIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE CANTABRIA

Department: DG of Equality and Women Issues

Address: C/ Valliciergo nº8, 39004 Santander, Spain

Legal status: public

Website: http://mujerdecantabria.com

Total budget: EUR 87 711.00

ERDF budget: EUR 74 554.35

Agentia pentru Dezvoltare Regionala Bucuresti-Ilfov

Name: Agentia pentru Dezvoltare Regionala Bucuresti-Ilfov

Department: N/A

Address: # 163 Eminescu Street, sector 2, 20076 Bucharest, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.adrbi.ro

Total budget: EUR 98 023.00

ERDF budget: EUR 83 319.55

Περιφερειακό Ταμείο Ανάπτυξης εκ μέρους της Περιφέρειας Στερεάς Ελλάδας

Name: Περιφερειακό Ταμείο Ανάπτυξης εκ μέρους της Περιφέρειας Στερεάς Ελλάδας

Department: N/A

Address: L. KALYVION 2, 35132 LAMIA, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.pste.gov.gr/

Total budget: EUR 98 512.00

ERDF budget: EUR 83 735.20

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

CMO STAMM

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

Region Dalarna

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

Athens University of Economics and Business - Research Center (AUEB-RC)

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

Global Center of Excellence (GCE) Node

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

Arezzo Innovation

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

SODERCAN - Sociedad para el desarrollo regional de Cantabria

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

AREZZO -SIENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CRAFT AND AGRICULTURE

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

DG of Equality and Women Issues, Government of Cantabria

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

Agentia Pentry Dezvoltare Regionala Bucuresti-Ilfov

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Partners and Projects info

Regional Development Fund on behalf of the Region of Sterea Ellada

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Project acronym: FEMINA

Project start date: 2018-06-01

Project end date: 2023-05-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 387 974.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 031 737.65

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 031 737.65.

Third-country contribution: Norway: EUR 104 205.00 (ERDF equivalent only)

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

Action plan - Arezzo-Siena

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2021-07-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action plan - Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Development Agency (ADRBI)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2023-05-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action plan - Cantabria

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2023-05-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action plan - Dalarna Region

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2021-09-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action plan - North Netherlands

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2021-09-02

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action plan - Regional Development Fund of Sterea Ellada

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2021-07-28

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

FEMINA INTERREG CANTABRIA SUBT ENG DEF

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2023-02-11

Languages: es

LABORATORIO FEMINA CANTABRIA: MUJER EMPRENDEDORA

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/femina/

Publication date: 2024-08-09

Document date: 2022-11-30

Languages: es

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-10-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

258 / 258 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

2 084 / 2 085 (99.95%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

Languages

Contact Form

Female participation in high-tech enterprises

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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