NEO-CYCLE is placing gender equality at the heart of responsible innovation. As the project develops sustainable solutions for the recovery and upcycling of critical raw materials from electronic waste, it also highlights the importance of women’s participation and leadership in deep tech, materials science, engineering and circular economy innovation.
As part of this commitment, the project organised an online workshop on Women’s Leadership Development in Engineering, bringing together around 40 participants from research organisations, companies, NGOs and public authorities across Europe. The session explored the barriers women still face in STEM and deep tech careers, as well as the skills, support structures and cultural changes needed to strengthen women’s leadership in these fields.
The discussions underlined that gender equality is not only a matter of representation, but also a key factor for better science, stronger innovation and more inclusive solutions. Diverse teams bring different perspectives, identify blind spots and help ensure that new technologies respond more effectively to societal needs.
Through partner guidelines, monitoring of gender indicators, workshops and the sharing of good practices, NEO-CYCLE continues to support a more inclusive innovation ecosystem — one where women’s voices, expertise and leadership contribute directly to Europe’s green and digital transition.
