Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences believes Promoting gender equality in social innovation. EQUALS-EU is a regional partnership that originated from the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age.EQUALS Global partnership is dedicated to promoting gender balance in the technology sector by championing equality of access, skills development and career opportunities for women and men alike.
The partnership aims to reverse the increasing gender digital divide by empowering women through their use of information and communication tech.
Global partnership for gender equality : EQUALS-EU Consortium consists of 19 organisations from a wide variety of sectors including higher education institutions, small and medium enterprises, civil society organisations and research institutions.Together with external partners the EQUALS-EU scope of activities 37 European and non-European countries.EQUALS-EU: Europe’s Regional Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age is affiliated with the EQUALS Global Partnership.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement nr. 101006396.Progress towards gender equality in Europe is moving slowly. The EU’s Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 calls for a Europe where women and men, girls and boys, are equal, where diversity is a recognized asset to the economy and society, and where women have equal opportunities to participate and thrive in society. The EU has committed to improving the structural inequality between men and women and empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of women and girls. However, a conclusive strategy for eliminating gender inequality and reshaping institutionalized stereotypes and discriminatory practices has yet to emerge.
The information society presents new possibilities for generating and distributing wealth and knowledge. Active participation of women in the information society is a matter of justice and equality and improves EU competitiveness. Digital inclusion provides new pathways and novel solutions for ensuring that women and girls can participate in the entire sphere of economic, social, political and cultural life. The participation of women and girls in research and innovation is crucial for promoting digital inclusion and addressing the complex social and economic challenges facing Europe. However, innovations are often disproportionately driven by and benefit men.
EQUALS-EU aims to promote gender equity in social innovation through capacity building and creating smart, sustainable and inclusive social innovation ecosystems in local communities and cities in Europe and the Global North and South.
