FEMtech Career

A comparison of European countries shows that in terms of the number of women scientists employed in industrial research, Austria ranks in the bottom third. Women are barely represented at all in senior positions. FEMtech Career aims to reverse this trend and thus increase the competitiveness of R&D-intensive companies.

In order to increase the proportion of women in research and improve their career opportunities, FEMtech supports companies and application-oriented non-university research institutions in implementing structural measures which 

  • lead to equal opportunities for women and men (affirmative action plans, flexible working time schemes etc.) 
  • increase the proportion of female scientists and engineers in the company, 
  • support female scientists and engineers in their professional careers (coaching, mentoring, further education and training etc.), 
  •  implement activities which take account of interests of women in research.

FEMtech Career supports the development and implementation of suitable measures at companies (industry, SMEs) and at research institutions on the basis of the organisation"s individual situation.

These activities should effect a variety of levels, such as organisation and management, human resources and research and development. The main focus is to improve structures in the long term, women"s access to positions and general working conditions at the organisation concerned.

As a consequence, companies are supposed to be attractive employers, and by introducing gender mainstreaming they find themselves able to recruit greater numbers of researchers and experts, thereby increasing their competitive advantage.


The FEMtech Career programme supports research- and technology-oriented companies and non-university research institutions by

  • implementing structural actions and initiatives which lead to equal opportunities for women, 
  • developing measures to increase the number of women among researchers and technicians in the company, 
  • setting initiatives to support female researchers and technicians in their professional career and 
  • creating awareness of women’s interests in research.

The companies and research institutions design and implement these measures in accordance with their own individual starting point.


FEMtech Career aims to achieve the following goals:

  • increase the proportion of women in research personnel (hiring, internships), 
  • improve the professional position of women, increase women’s access to leading positions, 
  •  increase gender sensitivity in the company, sensitise the decision-makers for gender issues, 
  • create measures to achieve equal opportunities.

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