Women in research face funding gaps and career barriers. On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, ARA City Radio looks at efforts made in Luxembourg, speaking to the FNR and the University of Luxembourg.

Gender inequality persists in research and academia, despite efforts to close the gap. The National Research Fund (FNR) manages one-fourth of Luxembourg’s research funding and plays a key role in fostering equal opportunities. However, women still receive more funding in social sciences, while men dominate STEM grants. Andreea Monnat, FNR’s Secretary General, emphasizes that raising awareness is crucial to change.

FNR’s gender equality plan tackles the issue at its core. In 2022, only 26% of applicants for research funding were women, mirroring the percentage of female grant recipients. To address this, FNR is working to encourage more women to apply. Another approach is increasing female representation in decision-making—currently, less than one-third of FNR’s reviewer panel is female.

The University of Luxembourg is also striving for change. Rector Jens Kreisel highlights the challenge: while gender parity exists in many classrooms, women often disappear from STEM careers later on. Family responsibilities, biases in hiring, and leadership barriers contribute to this trend.

Currently, only 25% of professors at the university are women. To improve this, a new pilot scheme launching this summer will introduce female-only professorships, aiming to reshape the academic landscape.

Photo: SIP/Luxembourg Government