Manifesto
This manifesto is made to inspire and mobilize a wide range of stakeholders towards our common cause of more Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the technology industry. The tech industry can solve major global issues, but only with a diverse workforce reflecting our society. We advocate for a better future through sustainable social and technological development.
At the forefront of advancing sustainability and the future of Europe, European Women in Tech and partners aim to highlight the critical role of diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. We are dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in technology. By doing so, we enhance sustainable innovation and technological solutions that serve the entire society, equal career and financial opportunities.
We are the voice of multiple women in tech initiatives across Europe, representing as of 2024 1.9 million women. We dream of a tech world where women are equally represented and influential and work towards this dream by offering critical resources like guidelines, data, benchmarks, and best practices.
By connecting local initiatives, governments, companies, philanthropists, and institutions, we strive to share knowledge and inspire, bringing laggards and leaders together.
A more diverse and inclusive European technology, means more innovative, sustainable and creative developments, putting Europe on the map again. The urgency of this transformation cannot be overstated; Europe faces significant challenges in climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality. Research shows that diverse teams, including women, excel in problem-solving and innovation, leading to higher quality patents and more profitable products.
Including women in developing AI, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies ensures these do not perpetuate biases but promote equity. By ensuring equal representation, we develop solutions addressing a broader range of human needs, all our creative and innovative potential is utilized, and the benefits of technology are equitably distributed. A gender-diverse tech industry is essential for fostering the creativity and resilience needed to tackle the world's most pressing issues.
1. Our Mission and Goal
The tech industry in Europe represents almost 10 million people as of 2023, with 1.9 million being women (19.4%)¹. Research shows that the positive effects of a diverse workforce, such as increased innovation, more profitable creative solutions, and greater happiness at work (preventing burnout)², start to manifest when a minority group represents at least 30% of the total³. That’s why we have set 30% or 3.6 million women in tech in Europe by 2030 as our common objective with our partners.
Our mission is to create a powerful coalition and movement among all stakeholders to advocate for the increased representation and influence of women in the tech industry across Europe and beyond.
2. Strategy
Some EU countries have made significant strides in increasing the number of women in tech, while others have seen slower progress. We aim to:
Combine Strengths: Bring together the largest EU markets with the most women in tech and the innovative leaders who have exponentially increased female representation in their countries.
Learn and Share Best Practices: Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration to break down barriers and stereotypes.
Advocate and Influence: Use our collective voice to influence policies and practices at the EU level, ensuring that the tech industry becomes more inclusive and diverse.
3. Our Commitment
Partners of European Women in Tech commit to a list of actions (see: 4. Requirements for Partners), depending on whether they are a non-profit, profit, governmental or educational institution. We provide support through:
Guidance, resources, and financial opportunities for local women in tech initiatives
Annual Conferences and Meetups: Organize regular events to bring together women in tech from different countries to network, learn, and collaborate.
Online Platforms and Communities: Develop digital platforms for continuous engagement, resource sharing, and virtual meetups.
Rolemodels, Mentorship Programs, Event support: We highlight through various activities targeted towards women in tech inspirational stories.
Local Chapters: Support local chapters in each EU country to address specific needs and challenges while maintaining a cohesive overall strategy.
Project Based Requests: If a local chapter, government, company or institution has a specific need, challenge or request we help on project basis and connect them with our network.
Benefits for partners:
By uniting local communities and initiatives, we strive to position Europe (back) as a global thought leader in tech and to enhance its innovation capacity. Becoming part of the initiative benefits partners with:
Inspiration and Recognition: Supporting women through role models, mentorship, success stories, and events, while highlighting the achievements of local initiatives. By joining us, your efforts gain visibility and credibility, inspiring more women to pursue tech careers.
Comprehensive Support: Building a robust support network that offers guidance, resources, and financial opportunities. By being a partner, local initiatives benefit from collective resources, potential funding, and a supportive community dedicated to advancing women in tech.
Increased Influence and Advocacy: Amplifying your voice on a European and international level to influence policies and practices. Participate in advocacy efforts and collaborate with other member organizations to drive significant change and create a more inclusive tech industry.
Collaborative Opportunities: Engaging in joint projects and sharing best practices to learn from each other’s experiences. These collaborations foster innovation and help break down barriers within the tech industry.
Education and Research: Providing access to a wealth of educational resources, training programs, and research opportunities. We aim to equip women with the skills and knowledge needed for tech careers, and offer local initiatives valuable tools and methodologies to improve their programs.
4. Requirements for Partners
We call on all women in tech programs and initiatives across Europe, as well as companies, governments, philanthropists, universities and other institutions to join us in this movement. Together, we can amplify our impact, drive significant change, and create a more inclusive tech industry for future generations.
Below is a list of expected commitments in order to sign this manifesto. A questionnaire and interview is part of our mechanism for accountability and transparency. Reporting and feedback will be added to this later.
Women in Tech Initiatives:
Engage: Join our network, share your progress, and collaborate on projects.
Transparency: Share knowledge and success stories to inspire and guide others.
Companies:
Invest: Dedicate a budget to women in tech initiatives.
Act: Run programs with action plans to boost female representation.
Governments:
Support: Create and enforce policies for (gender) diversity in tech.
Fund: Offer grants and incentives for women in tech programs.
Universities other educational institutions:
Educate: Include gender diversity in your curriculum and support female tech students.
Mentor: Link female students with industry professionals through mentorship programs.
Philanthropists:
Invest: Fund scholarships, grants, and initiatives for women in tech.
Advocate: Use your influence to promote gender diversity in tech.
References:
¹Eurostat (Employed ICT Specialists 24/04/2024 23:00)
²McKinsey & Company, "Delivering through Diversity" 2018
Harvard Business Review, "How Diversity Can Drive Innovation" 2013
³Kanter, R. M. (1977). Men and Women of the Corporation. New York: Basic Books.
Konrad, A. M., & Kramer, V. (2006). How many women do boards need? Gender Diversity and Tokenism Theory. Business Horizons, 49(3), 257-266.
Thompson, L., & Sekaquaptewa, D. (2002). When Being Different Is Detrimental: Solo Status and the Performance of Women and Racial Minorities. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 2(1), 183-203.
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