Gender

The Nordic region is the European leader in gender equality, but when it comes to leadership positions in research and innovation, men dominate just as widely here as in the rest of Europe.

Girls are increasingly outperforming boys in the Nordic educational systems. What are the potential ramifications of this for men’s well-being, for the welfare society and for working life in the Nordic region in the future? These and other questions were discussed at the seminar, “Gender Gaps in Nordic Educational Achievement”, held in Oslo.

The Nordic Centre of Excellence (NCoE) Beyond the gender paradox focuses on exploring women's careers in technology-driven work environments, and conducts both action(-for change), solution-focused research and development research in these contexts. It has four main research pillars, investigating these both inside and outside of academe in a cross-sectoral, comparative manner: regional knowledge and innovation systems; knowledge and innovation systems in research-intensive environments; e-health; and Digital Humanities (in the academy and in the gaming industry).

The ambition of the proposed NORDICORE Centre of Excellence is to create knowledge that will further advance gender balance and diversity in research and innovation. The future of the Nordic knowledge economy depends on our ability to attract the most highly qualified men and women to excel in the field of research and research based innovation. At a time where scientific excellence and international competition is increasing in significance and our welfare states are under ever greater pressure, it is crucial to produce solid knowledge on which to base further policies and practices in the field.

NordForsk welcomes the recent statement on gender equality in academia made by the Young Academies of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania. The purpose of the joint statement is to identify initiatives and strategies that may improve gender equality in academia.