Appropriately considering gender in research supports the quality of the research project. Consequently, gender criteria are taken into account when evaluating project proposals. Gender criteria affect all aspects of a research project: where individuals or groups are the subject of research will apply or use the research results, or will be impacted by the results, this must be taken into account in the research design. These comprehensive gender aspects are evaluated according to three gender criteria included in the main criteria: Quality of the project, Benefit and exploitation, Suitability of project participants.
- Quality of the project: To what extent have gender-specific topics been taken into account in the planning process, e.g. in research questions and methods?
- Benefit and exploitation (not in all funding programmes): Appropriately considering gender aspects in the market perspective increases the exploitation prospects for the project results. This will be taken into account when evaluating the economic potential and exploitation prospects.
- Suitability of funding applicants/project participants: Does the composition of the project team reflect the aim to improve the gender balance in the sector?
The criteria and their role in the selection process are specified in the guidelines for the funding instruments available for the relevant call.
In some programmes, gender aspects play a special role and some programmes' criteria also encompass other diversity aspects. Additional information can be found in the relevant call guidelines.
From an intersectional understanding of gender—one that also considers other diversity dimensions such as age, physical and cognitive abilities, etc.—the gender criteria serve as a gateway to fostering awareness of diversity in the research context. Sustainability aspects and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also closely linked to gender and diversity dimensions.
Together, sustainability and gender considerations ultimately aim to ensure that public funding supports innovations that respect the needs, expectations, and values of people in Austria, thereby creating societal value. This objective is also reflected in the approach of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
The criteria and their role in the selection process can be found in the guidelines of the specific funding instruments applicable to each call for proposals.
In certain funding programs, gender aspects play a particularly significant role. Additional information on these cases is available in the respective call guidelines.
The gender criteria are part of a broader strategy to achieve gender equality in research and development. Their political and legal foundations lie in gender budgeting and impact objectives set by the commissioning ministries of the FFG.