Cyprus’ Chief Scientist Dimitris Skourides took part in a high‑level panel at the “Women Who Built Europe” conference in Brussels, outlining national policies aimed at boosting women’s participation in research, innovation and technology.
Speaking at the event hosted at the Council of the European Union, Skourides presented measures introduced by the Research and Innovation Foundation to support women researchers and increase their presence in leadership roles.
Between 2023 and 2025, the foundation issued 90 calls for proposals and signed contracts worth €100 million, creating 739 new jobs, 209 of them filled by women, according to the document.
He said targeted changes to postdoctoral funding programs had sharply increased women’s participation, noting that 61% of submitted proposals were coordinated by women, compared with 29% in earlier rounds, and that women led 76% of funded projects.
Skourides highlighted Cyprus’ performance in gender representation, saying women account for 42.3% of participation in science, engineering and STEM fields, and 29.3% in ICT.
He also pointed to the 37% share of women in the Cabinet, attributing progress to the government’s commitment to gender equality.
He referenced initiatives such as “Women for Tech” and “Women for Cyber,” which together have more than 670 active members, and cited examples of pioneering women in computing and cybersecurity, including Ada Lovelace and Dorothy Denning.
The chief scientist also noted research showing higher returns on investment for women‑led companies and said bridging the gender gap requires both structural policy and cultural change. He emphasized the importance of leadership models and highlighted a group of 35 Cypriot women shaping public life, innovation and STEM fields.
Skourides also referred to remarks by Cyprus’ Commissioner for Gender Equality, Tzogi Christodoulou, who stressed the EU’s renewed commitment to women’s rights through upcoming gender‑equality strategies and action plans.
He concluded by calling for stronger alliances, including through networks such as G100, and urged women to “claim their place at the table and lead with courage.”