Horizon Europe sets gender equality as a crosscutting principle and reaffirms the Commission commitment to gender equality in research and innovation. 
Main novelties: 

  • having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place becomes an eligibility criterion to get access to Horizon Europe funding; ; 
  • the integration of the gender dimension into research and innovation content is a requirement by default across the whole programme; 
  • particular attention will be paid to ensuring gender balance in evaluation panels and in other relevant advisory bodies, such as boards and expert groups. Gender balance among researchers involved in projects will be strongly encouraged and will be taken into account for equally ranked proposals. 

When in the process is a GEP required?

Public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments from EU Member States and associated countries wishing to participate in Horizon Europe will be required, starting in 2022, to have a gender equality plan (GEP) in place.
All organisations must submit a self-declaration at the proposal stage, through a specific questionnaire confirming they have a GEP in place. 

GEP at UniTrento

UniTrento is among the first Italian universities to adopt the Gender Equality Plan (Gep). The document outlines guidelines and actions to be implemented aiming at  equity. From balancing private and working life to gender rebalancing in bodies and top positions, from equality between women and men in recruitment and career progression to gender mainstreaming in research and teaching programmes to combating violence, mobbing and harassment.