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Over the past two decades, female participation in science and technology in Europe has seen significant progress, although it remains marked by persistent structural imbalances. In 2024, over 73.8 million people between the ages of 25 and 64 were employed in science and technology sectors in the European Union, confirming the strategic importance of these fields for the continent’s competitiveness. Within this employment pool, the presence of women has grown significantly: the number of female scientists and engineers increased from 3.4 million in 2008 to 7.9 million in 2024, according to data released by Eurostat. This increase demonstrates a structural shift in the composition of the scientific workforce, but does not yet equate to the achievement of equality. Vertical and horizontal segregation continue to characterize the European research and innovation system, as highlighted in the She Figures 2024 and She Figures 2025 reports, published by the European Commission. Comparing the two editions reveals a complex picture, in which specific improvements coexist with persistent inequalities.
SCIENTIFIC EMPLOYMENT AND SECTORAL GAPS
An analysis of the distribution of women across the various research and innovation sectors reveals a diverse pattern. In higher education, women researchers account for 44%, while in the government sector the share rises to 45%. However, in the business sector, the female presence is limited to 22%, indicating significant underrepresentation in the private sector, where investments, patents, and technology transfer are concentrated. An additional critical issue concerns self-employment in the science, engineering, and information and communication technology sectors, where only 25% of professionals are women. This asymmetry suggests the existence of barriers to access to scientific and technological entrepreneurship, with direct implications for innovation and Europe’s competitiveness. At the territorial level, the data reveal significant differences between Member States and regions. The highest percentages of female scientists and engineers are found in Latvia (50.9%), Denmark (48.8%), and Estonia (47.9%). In contrast, Finland (30.7%), Hungary (31.7%), and Luxembourg (32.4%) have significantly lower levels. The data for Southern Italy are particularly significant, where the share of female scientists and engineers stands at 31.1%, placing Southern Italy among the areas with the lowest female representation in Europe. This figure, lower than the European average, highlights a dual disadvantage: gender and regional. In some European regions, such as the Canary Islands (58.8%), the Azores (57.3%), and Madeira (56.4%), women outnumber men in scientific roles, demonstrating that equality is an achievable goal.
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN AND FEMALE PARTICIPATION
Another differentiating factor concerns the origin of female workers. Women born outside the European Union are less likely to be employed as scientists and engineers (36%) than women born in another Member State (43%) or in the country where they work (42%). In Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the percentages of non-EU-born women employed in science are particularly low, at 21% and 26%, respectively. This finding draws attention to the intersection of gender and migration, suggesting the existence of multiple barriers.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC PATHWAYS
Both She Figures reports (2024 and 2025 editions) confirm that women represent approximately half of doctoral graduates in the EU. In 2025, the share stands at 48%, unchanged from 2021. However, in the fields of science and engineering, the percentage drops to 37%, an increase of only one percentage point compared to the previous survey. This gap indicates persistent disciplinary segregation. In the information and communication technologies sector, only 22% of doctorates were awarded to women in 2024. This shortage directly impacts the availability of advanced skills in a strategic area for Europe’s digital transformation. A comparison between the two editions shows that female representation among scientists and engineers remains stable at 41%, while among researchers it drops slightly to 34% in 2025, a decrease of one percentage point compared to 2021. This suggests that the overall numerical expansion does not automatically translate into a strengthening of the female presence in research roles.
VERTICAL SEGREGATION AND ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
The distribution of women across the academic hierarchy confirms the phenomenon of the so-called “gender gap.” In 2025, women represent 47% of Grade C, equivalent to postdoctoral researchers, 41% of Grade B, equivalent to associate professors, and only 30% of Grade A, i.e., full professors. Although the latter category recorded a four percentage point increase compared to 2021, the gap remains wide. The situation is even more pronounced in science and engineering disciplines, where women in Grade A positions account for only 20%. This data demonstrates that the glass ceiling continues to operate particularly strongly in STEM fields. Furthermore, in 2024, it was highlighted that only 9% of inventors in the EU were women and that 98% of European research did not integrate a gender dimension. In 2025, fewer than one in ten patent applications will be filed by a woman, representing a 9% share, a slight decrease compared to 2021. This confirms the persistent exclusion of women from the processes of economic valorization of research.
PUBLICATIONS, GOVERNANCE, AND FUNDING
Regarding scientific publications, women represent 34% of authors in 2025, an increase of three percentage points compared to 2021. This progress indicates greater visibility in scientific production, but not yet a balance. Female representation on boards of directors and in leadership positions has reached 38%, a significant increase of seven percentage points. Positive signs also emerge in European funding programs: over 51% of participants in Horizon Europe boards and expert groups are women, and 81% of calls address the gender dimension. Female researchers represent 38% of participants in funded projects, and the share of consortia led by women has risen from 23% to 31%. However, the success rate of funding applications remains lower for women, at 32%, with no improvement compared to 2021. This difference highlights the existence of obstacles that have not yet been fully overcome in evaluation and selection mechanisms.
AUTOMATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND JOB RISK
According to a joint study by the International Labour Organization and NASK, in high-income countries, nearly 10% of female-dominated positions could be replaced by automation, compared to 3.5% of male-dominated roles. This gap reflects the concentration of women in administrative and repetitive roles that are more exposed to AI. At the same time, between 42% and 66% of European workers fear a negative impact of AI on their jobs. In a context of a chronic shortage of technological skills, with between 500,000 and 800,000 vacancies in the tech sector each year until at least 2035, the departure of approximately 60,000 women each year from the tech sector due to lack of career prospects represents a significant loss of human capital.
THE ROLE OF EUROPEAN POLICIES AND THE OUTLOOK FOR ITALY
Since 2012, gender equality has been a priority for the European Research Area. The introduction of the Gender Equality Plan as an eligibility requirement for Horizon Europe and the target of 50% female representation on committees represent concrete tools for change. For Italy, however, the challenge takes on a specific territorial dimension. The figure of 31.1% of female scientists and engineers in Southern Italy marks a significant lag compared to the European average of 41%. This gap suggests the need for targeted policies that integrate gender equality measures with regional development strategies, to prevent territorial disparities from amplifying gender disparities. The comparison between the She Figures 2024 and 2025 shows a Europe making slow progress, with improvements in areas such as leadership and participation in funding programs, but stagnation or regression in other areas, such as representation among researchers and in patents. The challenge is not simply to increase numbers, but to structurally transform research and innovation systems to fully leverage female talent.
GRADUAL BUT INCOMPLETE CHANGE
A joint analysis of the most recent data highlights a trajectory of gradual but incomplete change. The increase in the number of female scientists and engineers, improved leadership, and the integration of the gender dimension into European programs are encouraging signs. However, persistent underrepresentation in STEM fields, patents, and senior positions, combined with the new risks associated with automation, requires strengthening public policies. For Italy, and particularly for Southern Italy, the priority is to close the gap with the European average, simultaneously addressing gender and regional dimensions. Only through an integrated approach, capable of combining training, inclusion, innovation, and professional reskilling, will it be possible to transform quantitative progress into genuine substantive equality in the European research and innovation system.