European Gender Summit 2012

Welcome Messages

MEP Britta Thomsen, European Parliament

"Over the last 30 years there has been a remarkable rise in women’s level of education and participation in the labour market, including research. Europe represents one of the largest producers and markets for science knowledge, but it needs to be made more inclusive and “innovation-friendly” through user-driven innovations that target societal challenges such as health, aging population and energy. Healthy population is a goal common to all European countries, and a challenge that offers considerable potential for Europe to lead the world in providing innovative responses. But, it is also an area where for many years research has turned a blind eye to the role of sex and gender differences in disease prevalence, progress and clinical outcomes, and where innovation cultures have not seen women as ‘owners’ of problems worthy of special attention. Correcting such inequalities is important to quality of research but also to create opportunities for new discoveries in areas such as biomarkers, stem cells and cancer diagnostics. The multi-stakeholder dialogue promoted by the Gender Summit will help redefine the research and innovation landscape to give women and men an equal role in research and society, as co-owners and co-solvers of Europe’s societal challenges.”

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Máire Geoghegan Quinn, EC Commissioner for Research and Innovation

"We need to be smarter, sharper and more focused in our research and innovation missions by concentrating on a small number of ‘big ticket’ items, which are crucial for achieving impact on the economy and society. They include fair, transparent, merit based recruitment, and specific measures to support women’s scientific careers and their active engagement in innovation. The Gender Summit will review available evidence and experience of how to enhance quality of science knowledge making, and help create new markets for scientific knowledge, by addressing gender issues in research and innovation. I very much look forward to hearing the outcome of these discussions, which will provide useful input and help us identify realistic opportunities for implementing gender equality measures within HORIZON 2020, Innovation Union and ERA."

Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

"Innovation and quality research are extraordinary tools to achieve progress. It is indeed crucial to open spaces where creativity and talent can express and drive evolution. However, we often forget that no matter how much and how long we research, humankind will never achieve meaningful progress unless it manages to guarantee human dignity, freedom and equality. Let’s face it. We live in times and societies where women continue to earn less, decide less, and count less than men. There is one area where women count more than men: in the record of victims of violence. And yet, achieving gender equality is a legal, economic and moral imperative. We simply can’t afford to exclude half the population from the efforts that we should undertake to achieve social and economic progress and to guarantee lasting peace. The council of Europe is proud of having contributed to put gender equality in the agenda of its 47 member states. Through our work, we have influenced important changes in legislations, policies and attitudes. We have indeed made progress but not achieved Progress yet. I therefore wish the Summit every success and count on your support so that the 21 Century becomes the Century of Progress through Equality.”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig, Head of Research, Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen

"Studies to understand metabolic and genetic variations can greatly benefit from consideration of the role of sexual dimorphism. Serum metabolite concentrations allow a direct readout of biological processes and association of specific metabolomic signatures with complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. There are well-known correlations between sex and the incidence, prevalence, age of onset, symptoms and severity of a disease, as well as the reaction to drugs. We showed that the metabolite profiles of males and females are significantly different and, furthermore, that specific genetic variants in metabolism-related genes depict sexual dimorphism. At this year's Gender Summit, we will share our research, providing new important insights into sex-specific differences of cell regulatory processes and underscores that studies should consider sex-specific effects in design and interpretation."

Mr Robert-Jan Smits, EC Director General for Research and Innovation

"The promotion of gender equality is part of the European Commission's strategic approach in the field of research and innovation. It contributes to the enhancement of European competitiveness and the full realisation of European innovation potential. In this framework we welcome the success of projects such as genSET, which demonstrate the essential role the EU has to play in contributing to long-term sustainable solutions in addressing gender imbalances in science. The promotion of gender equality and gender in research content is reinforced in the proposal for Horizon 2020 and we appreciate all interest and support in this area."

Contact

Gender Summit Team

European Science Foundation

1 quai Lezay-Marnesia | 67080 Strasbourg | Strasbourg

e: gendersummit@esf.org

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