The meeting was the first of a newly established working group, led by Commissioner Gabriel, that brings together 23 senior professionals and representatives from the EU Member States to work towards a more inclusive and gender-balanced innovation ecosystem, where creativity and diversity flourish. Commissioner Gabriel said: “We need women's creativity and entrepreneurial potential to create jobs and growth. If we want more women innovators in Europe, we need to invest more and provide them with the right education and support early on.'' Increasing women's participation and fostering gender equality in research and innovation is a priority under Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation programme, which will require public bodies, research and higher education institutions to have in place a gender equality plan to be eligible for EU funding. Another new initiative under Horizon Europe is the recently announced ‘Women TechEU', which will support deep-tech start-ups led by women and help them grow their company into the technology champions of tomorrow. The new working group complements these efforts, as well as the work of the European Innovation Council (EIC) fund, by promoting women's participation in the start-ups and innovation ecosystem in Europe. Together with the renewed European Research Area, adopted last autumn, and in synergy with the European Education Area, the Commission is committed to boosting gender equality and inclusiveness in Europe.

Background

European Women in VC is the community of senior women investors (Managing Partners and founders of VC funds and Business Angels) that currently brings together over 350 women from all over Europe. It is a joint initiative of women from seven countries (Poland, Czechia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Estonia, Slovenia, Hungary). Currently, there are now 19 ambassadors from 15 European countries and Israel.

Main mission is to build an active network for women professionals and strengthen the women presence in the VC industry in Europe. Venture Capital is a young industry in Europe with extreme disproportion in the gender diversity. According to Babson College Study over the last decade the proportion of women partners categorized as key decision makers in VC firms has declined from 10% to 6%. Women investors impact the fundraising options for women co-funded start-ups or such start-ups that are targeting women related problems or challenges. Without visible institutional and governmental focus on funding women run VC’s and bringing in more women to found VC funds this small percentage will not increase.

Original news: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_21_2005