EIT Community Supernovas has launched its latest report, “Making Gender-Smart Innovation Happen: A Handbook of Good Practices in Gender Mainstreaming Across the EIT Community.”
Developed under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the publication brings together practical insights and real examples of how gender equality can be embedded across Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
From commitment to action
Across Europe, gender equality is widely recognised as a core value. However, gaps in participation, leadership and access to opportunities continue to shape who innovates, who receives funding and whose ideas scale.
This report moves beyond theory to focus on how organisations are translating ambition into action.
It showcases a selection of good practices implemented between 2022 and 2025 across EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), highlighting how gender mainstreaming can be applied in:
- Education
- Innovation systems
- Business creation and acceleration
Who is this report for?
This handbook is designed for a wide range of stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem, including:
- Entrepreneurs and startup founders looking to build more inclusive and competitive businesses
- Investors and venture capital professionals seeking to integrate gender-smart approaches into decision-making
- Innovation programme managers and ecosystem builders aiming to design more inclusive initiatives
- Policy-makers and public institutions working to strengthen diversity and impact in innovation systems
- Universities and educators shaping the next generation of innovators
Whether you are just starting to explore gender equality in innovation or looking to deepen your approach, this report offers practical guidance that can be applied across contexts and sectors.
Through initiatives such as Women2Invest, Supernovas empowers women interested in entering the investment ecosystem through practical training, mentoring and community-building.
A practical handbook for the innovation ecosystem
The report is designed as a hands-on resource for stakeholders across the innovation landscape.
It provides:
- Concrete examples of gender-responsive programmes
- Lessons learned from implementation across sectors and regions
- Practical tools that can be adapted and replicated
By focusing on real cases, the handbook demonstrates that gender-smart innovation is not only possible, but actionable and scalable.
A collective effort across the EIT Community
The publication reflects the collaborative work of the EIT Community and its partners, bringing together contributions from multiple KICs and initiatives.
“Across Europe, the innovation landscape is transforming. Europe cannot reach its full potential while gender inequalities continue to influence who innovates, whose ideas attract investment, and whose solutions scale.”
Martin Kern
Director, European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
The report is led by Anna Lucia Pinto, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Expert, whose work has been key in translating gender equality principles into practical approaches that can be implemented across different innovation contexts.
Strengthening Europe’s innovation potential
Gender equality is not only a social objective, but also a driver of innovation excellence, competitiveness and impact. More inclusive innovation systems lead to better solutions, stronger organisations and more resilient ecosystems.
By sharing these practices, the report contributes to the ongoing efforts of the EIT Community to:
- Increase diversity in entrepreneurship and investment
- Strengthen women’s participation and leadership
- Build more inclusive and effective innovation systems
Related resources
Gender Bias in European Venture Capital report
Women2Invest programme
