Gender mainstreaming in EU's promotion of innovation and clusters

• In this paper, we elaborate a gendered perspective on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation as implemented in European Union policies promoting innovation and clusters. In this endeavour, we employ Squire's (2005), Walby's (2005) and Rees' (2005) classifications of different kinds of gender mainstreaming. Our study comprises the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which provides resources for regions throughout the Union. During the period 2007-2013 priority is given to measures promoting entrepreneurship, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, innovation and clusters. Gender mainstreaming is perceived as a key element in the implementation of ERDF. However, evaluations carried out between 2000-2006 show that there are several obstacles for the integration of a gender perspective in ERDF, e.g. that concepts such as entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and clusters are perceived of as gender neutral and that a gender perspective is not applied when promoting innovation and clusters. Our study investigates how gender mainstreaming is approached in the Operational Programmes (OP) for the period 2007-2013 within the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective supported by the ERDF. Ten of in total 13 programmes supporting transnational cooperation between different European regions are analysed in a gender perspective. The study shows that most OPs lack gender SWOT-analyses and/or an integration of a gender perspective in the overall SWOT analysis for the territorial cooperation areas. Few make any references linking gender equality to economic growth, entrepreneurship, innovation or clusters. Positive actions for women in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology are rare. Gender equality is referred to as a horizontal objective and in relation to non-discrimination, but it is not mentioned in relation to specific objectives and measures. In theory, most of the programmes are open to initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and clusters in sectors where many women are active, such as for example tourism. But underlying assumptions of innovation and clusters, as well as an extensive focus on high-tech sectors, in practice constitute obstacles for women's participation and potential benefits of the ERDF.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Genus och teknik

Gender and Technology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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