Despite notable progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM disciplines in Europe (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), particularly in patented innovation and technological entrepreneurship. This is highlighted by the latest study from the Patent and Technology Observatory of the European Patent Office (EPO), which provides a precise and factual x-ray of persistent inequalities, in the run-up to International Women’s Day.
Read the study “Advancing Women in STEM” in English
Progress too slow: the share of women inventors remains in the minority
The study reveals that the growth of female participation in inventive activity remains very limited. In 2022, only 13.8% of inventors named on European patent applications were womenup from around 13% in 2019. Although this figure marks a slight improvement, it highlights the persistence of a deep glass ceiling in science and technology careers.
Another revealing indicator: the proportion of patents including at least one female inventor is higher, around 25%which reflects a greater presence in mixed teams. However, this diversity does not compensate for the low representation of women as main inventors.
Marked disparities according to technological sectors
The study highlights significant gaps between disciplines :
- Women are relatively well represented in the sectors of pharmaceutical products (34.9%)from the biotechnology (34.2%) or the food chemistry (32.3%).
- Conversely, they remain largely in the minority in areas such as machine tools, basic communication processes or mechanical elementswhere the rate of female inventors drops below 6%.
These disparities indicate that certain sectors are more conducive to the integration of women, while others remain predominantly male, often because of cultural heritage or a lack of visible female role models.
Women founders remain rare in deep-tech
The study also focuses on technological entrepreneurship: only 10% of deep-tech start-ups filing European patents have a female founder. Even when the teams are mixed, this proportion remains well below the expected average. This observation highlights a double obstacle: access to innovation and the creation of innovative businesses remains more difficult for women.
The patent sector: more favorable, but still unequal
Paradoxically, women are more present in professions linked to patents : next to 25% of reviewers and approximately 30% of new recruits are women. This suggests that certain technical and legal paths associated with innovation attract more women. Yet these careers remain far removed from the direct creation of patented inventions, thus limiting the impact on scientific innovation.
Why are these findings essential for the future of innovation?
STEM is the heart of major technological transitions : digital, health, energy, climate, artificial intelligence… Not fully exploiting women’s potential represents a considerable economic and social loss. Behind these statistics lie hampered talents, unsubmitted ideas and insufficient diversity, hampering the ability to innovate.
The obstacles are often systemic and sociocultural:
- of the educational choices influenced by gender stereotypes from a very young age;
- a “talent drain” throughout the professional career, known as leaky pipeline ;
- A limited access to funding and leadership positions for women.
The study “Advancing Women in STEM” of EPO confirms that, despite progress over several decades, the road to gender equality in STEM remains long. It’s not just about seeing women present in research or technologies, but to reach leadership positions, promote their inventions and transform their ideas into impactful innovations.
This dynamic goes beyond the question of equity: it is essential for strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, creativity and growth entirely.
