Warning Sign for European Research and Innovation: New She Figures Data Reveal Gender Equality Gaps in Science

The European Commission has published a She Figures report for 2024, presenting the latest EU-wide statistics on gender equality in research and innovation. The figures show that women outnumber men in higher education but remain under-represented in research, particularly in STEM and leadership positions. All of that might significantly harm the European Union’s competitiveness. 

While the new report confirms a slight progress in the overall representation of women in science, it shows a significant gender gap in some areas. Overall, the proportion of women among researchers is just over a third (34%).

Moreover, women’s representation is dramatically lower in STEM fields or ICT, where only 22% of PhD graduates are women.

Europe’s competitiveness at risk

This situation not only worsens the existing skills shortage in the EU, but also threatens its long-term competitiveness. These findings mirror concerns already mentioned in the Draghi Report on EU competitiveness, which highlighted the need to harness the power of a diverse and inclusive workforce to boost Europe’s competitiveness and economic growth.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, the Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, commented: “Talent has no gender, but opportunity too often does. The She Figures report is a wake-up call, women are driving progress in education, but still face too many barriers in research, innovation, and leadership. We need to change that—not just because it’s fair, but because Europe’s future depends on it. A truly competitive and innovative Europe is one where every mind, regardless of gender, gets the chance to thrive.”

About She Figures 2024

The She Figures publication is the European Commission’s flagship report monitoring gender equality in R&I across Europe and beyond. In line with previous editions, She Figures 2024 follows the chronological journey of researchers from higher education into the labour market and on to decision-making and leadership positions.

This edition introduces an important novelty: the pilot She Figures Index. This index provides a holistic measure of Member States’ progress towards gender equality in R&I. The Czech Republic scored 65.4 out of 100, ranking 22 out of 27 countries.

You can find the press release article here. 
Find the She Figures PDF here.
You can find the She Figures Index here.