Gender gaps in R&I careers: "numbers have hardly changed in a decade", Johanna Drake from DG RTD said

A civil servant of the European Commission has acknowledged the "persistent gender gaps in research and innovation careers".

Johanna Drake, Deputy Director-General of DG RTD, said: "There are persistent gender gaps in research and innovation careers. Some of the numbers are worrying and have hardly changed in a decade." She was at the European Parliament's Committee for Industry, Technology and Research (ITRE) for an exchange of views on 10/11/2026, taking place during Gender Equality Week.

For example, only 22% of researchers in the business sector are women and 26% of the heads of academic institutions. Only 9% of patent applications are made by women.

Yet the 2016 Council conclusions on gender equality stated that it was a "driver for economic growth and competitiveness", and that…