European Network For Gender Balance in Informatics (EUGAIN): Activities and Results

TL;DR

EUGAIN addresses the persistent gender imbalance in Informatics by creating a Europe-wide network of researchers to coordinate data-driven interventions and disseminate practical guidelines to academia, industry, and policymakers. The project organizes its work through five working groups focused on education transitions, PhD-to-professorship pipelines, industry collaboration, and strategy dissemination, producing multiple booklets, a policy document, a handbook, and over 50 published papers. Key contributions include a structured framework for measuring progress, cross-national inventories of best practices, and targeted policies to improve recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in Informatics. The findings highlight persistent gaps across education and industry, the need for sustained collaboration and funding, and the potential for scalable, culturally aware strategies to promote gender balance in European informatics.

Abstract

This chapter provides a summary of the activities and results of the European Network For Gender Balance in Informatics (EUGAIN, EU COST Action CA19122). The main aim and objective of the network is to improve gender balance in informatics at all levels, from undergraduate and graduate studies to participation and leadership both in academia and industry, through the creation of a European network of colleagues working at the forefront of the efforts for gender balance in informatics in their countries and research communities.