At the ISPIM Connects Osaka conference, INSME presented the paper “Gender Diversity in European DeepTech Accelerators”, written in collaboration with the University of Thessaloniki. The research carried out within the EU-funded AccelerAction project offered critical insight into the challenges and opportunities surrounding gender inclusivity in entrepreneurship, particularly within DeepTech accelerator programs. The study revealed that women remain significantly underrepresented, with participation rates in accelerator programs of 26% to 50%.
DeepTech accelerators, vital for fostering innovation, often reflect broader societal disparities in gender equity. The research highlighted that accelerators without female leadership tend to struggle in attracting women entrepreneurs, while those implementing tailored programs for women achieve notably higher success rates in terms of targeted mentoring, specialized financial tools, and networking opportunities.
However, disparities in national approaches to gender equality pose challenges. While some countries, like those in Scandinavia, for broad inclusion strategies over women-specific programs, data indicates that this approach does not yield higher female participation rates compared to nations with targeted initiatives. The findings stress that achieving meaningful gender inclusivity requires addressing deep-rooted societal norms and systemic inequalities rather than relying solely on “gender-neutral” measures.
Lastly, the paper underscored the pivotal role of projects like AccelerAction in bridging the gender gap and advancing policies and frameworks for inclusivity. As entrepreneurship remains a key drive of economic growth and innovation, fostering gender balance in DeepTech accelerators could unlock the full potential of women-led ventures, promoting equitable and sustainable progress across Europe and beyond.
Read the full paper here.
Source: INSME Secretariat
