On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, it is essential to recognize and promote female talent in innovation and technology. In Castilla y León, technology centers are committed to the incorporation of more women in high-impact projects, consolidating an innovative and diverse ecosystem.
Women in science and thought-provoking data
The data reflect positive developments, but also significant challenges:
- 64% of new innovation and technology jobs were filled by women in 2023.
- However, their presence in strategic sectors remains low: 61.3% of ICT companies had no women in their workforce.
- In innovative companies, only 28.8% of their workers are women, and most of them in less visible support roles.
These numbers show us that, although steps have been taken towards equality, there is still a long way to go to achieve true equity in the scientific and technological sector.
Castilla y León, a region with growing female talent
In Castilla y León, more and more women are joining science and innovation, contributing knowledge, creativity and leadership. Promoting their participation is key to the development of a more competitive and sustainable ecosystem.
Eduardo de Andrés Martínez, director of NODDO, highlights:
“It is essential to recognize and promote female talent in Science and Innovation. In Castilla y León we have highly qualified professionals, and every day we see a larger number of women contributing to technological development. Only by ensuring their full participation will we achieve a more diverse, competitive and prepared ecosystem for the challenges of the future.”
Thanks to the work of technology centers such as AIR Institute, CARTIF, ICAMCyL or ITCL, among others, they work actively to promote the presence of women in their teams, contributing their talent and vision for the development of innovative solutions.
- AIR Institute commemorates this day with an internal conference, “Women, Science and Technology: challenges and opportunities”, where researchers from the Center will share their vision on current challenges and the future of technology. They also participate in projects such as GILL (Developing a pan-European collaboration hub for open gendered innovation), a European initiative to promote innovation with a gender perspective(more information here).
- CARTIF also strengthens the presence of women in science, with more than 40% of its staff made up of women, who participate in innovation projects in multiple technological areas.
- ICAMCyL stands out for having 70% of female talent in its staff, of which 80% have STEM profiles. An example of this are professionals with diverse profiles such as aerospace engineer with specialization in data analysis, mining and energy engineer, geologist specialized in Advanced Paleontology, industrial engineer or biotechnologist specialized in water management and environmental quality, among others.
- ITCL will make visible the role of women in science through a video with testimonials from senior and junior researchers, showing their experience and career in the sector.
Castilla y León is a region with enormous potential in the field of innovation and science. The community has a network of technology centers, universities and emerging companies that are increasingly betting on female talent.
Innovation with impact: the female approach to science
A key aspect revealed by the Women and Innovation 2024 report is the vision that women have of innovation. 64.5% of the women interviewed indicated that their main motivation for starting a business is to generate a positive impact on society.
This approach to innovation as a tool for social transformation is a differential value that we must promote.
Paradoxically, however, the presence of women is lower in sectors linked to Knowledge Transfer and Innovation, where their impact could be even greater.
The future of women in science: challenges and opportunities.
Advances in equality policies are generating opportunities, but there is still much to be done. It is essential to continue promoting:
- STEM vocations from an early age, so that more girls and young women become interested in science and technology.
- Mentoring and women’s leadership initiatives to promote female role models.
- More presence in strategic sectors, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and digital innovation.
From NODDOwe reaffirm our commitment to equality in science and innovation. We are committed to a future where female talent has the space it deserves and where innovation is an engine of transformation with real impact on society.
