Illustration picture from OsloMet Makerspace
New European Union project paves the way for women in technology
The project aims to give more women access to technology, digital skills and leadership positions.
The European Union has funded the three-year EQUALS EU project with a grant of 1.6 million Euro, and OsloMet is the coordinating institution.
Increased participation to promote digital inclusion
Men are often driving innovations, which also benefit men. Therefore, the starting point of the project is to increase the participation of women in research and innovation in order to promote digital inclusion.
The project will help to build gender inclusive innovation ecosystems that can cultivate a new generation of female inventors. It will also address the economic, social and cultural roots of gender inequality that affect education, employment and social life.
Start-ups led by women
More specifically, EQUALS EU will for example initiate 24 new start-ups led by women that may become innovators and leaders.
This requires bringing together diverse stakeholders to build capacity and forge new networks. These networks will produce available, accessible, affordable, useable, secure and sustainable information and communications technology (ICT) that is for everyone.
Diversity is the key
Founder and director of Mimica, Solveiga Pakštaitė has inspired the project:
‘It’s impossible for a team made up of people from the same gender with similar backgrounds to appreciate the full scope of scenarios that a product will be used in, therefore, promoting diversity is the key.’
Project leader and associate professor G. Anthony Giannoumis will be the youngest project leader of a horizon 2020 project at OsloMet. He highlights the uniqueness of the project:
Bringing together stakeholders
‘It brings together one of the largest groups of stakeholders that are involved in this issue to date.’
The project has representatives from the UN International Telecommunication Union and other groups that have been leading in digital gender policy and in developing technology.
‘This gives us the opportunity to bring them together to create relationships and new generations of advocates and innovators, dedicated to equality of women and girls,’ says Giannoumis.
OsloMet may be a leader for gender equality
‘What do you think the project may have to say for OsloMet?’
‘I think the project helps us to call attention to gender equality and put OsloMet on the map as a leader in this area, not only in Norway, but also in Europe and internationally.’
Last year OsloMet was awarded the leadership of the Research Coalition in the EQUALS international network for digital gender equality.
‘This was a key opportunity for OsloMet to expand our network of external partners, and the grant that we got from the EU is a direct outcome of this leadership role.’
Students will be involved in project activities
‘To what extent will employees and students at OsloMet be involved?’
‘Students will play a direct role in all of the project’s activities. The students will, for example, play a key role in the innovation and entrepreneurial activities of the project.’
‘The faculty and staff of OsloMet will also play key roles in the project. Specifically, they will help create relationships that bridge academia with government, industry and society.’
Solidifies OsloMet’s reputation in digital equality
‘What do you think it will have to say for R&D at OsloMet, and collaboration externally?’
‘The funding really gives us a pool of recourses to draw from to develop competence for gender equality.’
‘It really helps us to define what our vision is, as a university, and it helps us to build capacity to create new programmes, knowledge, and new innovative products and services for the
Norwegian and the international market, led by women who are entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders.’
‘This is a contribution to society here in Norway, and internationally, it will solidify OsloMet’s reputation as a leader in digital equality. It gives us the opportunity to bring attention to this issue and gives us an international profile in this area.’
Starts in 2021
‘How many at OsloMet will be involved at first?’
‘I will be the project leader, and we will have a diverse team who will support the project. We will also rely on the support of the academic and administrative staff at Faculty of Technology, Art and Design (TKD) as well as the other faculties at OsloMet.’
‘We have a key opportunity not only to reach out to the international community, but also to create ties between the faculties and the administrative structures at OsloMet to help realize the project.’
EQUALS EU will take off in the beginning of 2021 and will end in 2023.
Realizes a vision for participation and equality
For Giannoumis, personally, this project is also an opportunity to realize a vision that he has had since he was a child: A world where marginalized and excluded people can participate in society on an equal basis with others.
‘It is an incredibly exiting opportunity to do this project. We have an excellent group of people that have come together to realize this project. I cannot start it soon enough.’
For more information about the project, or if you’re interested in cooperating with us to promote digital gender equality, please contact the Project Leader, G. Anthony Giannoumis.
