CASPER- Certification-Award Systems to Promote gender Equality in Research

The value of gender equality is enshrined in the Treaty on European Union and further implemented through directives. Strengthening gender equality in research organisations is a top priority for the EU. Policies, however, vary tremendously across the EU Member States. The EU-funded CASPER project will focus on gender-related inequalities in research and innovation. It will examine the feasibility of establishing a European award or certification system for gender equality in research organisations. It will work on four scenarios, including a no-action scenario, in co-creation with national and international stakeholders. Each will be examined via a walk-through methodology to understand their respective strengths/weaknesses, costs/benefits, other positive/negative impacts, and contextual relevance. It will also be validated with stakeholders. The CASPER project, in response to the SwafS-11-2019 call, aims at examining the feasibility of establishing a European award or certification system for gender equality in research organisations. On the basis of an in-depth assessment of existing relevant systems, the project proposes to devise and validate four scenarios, including a no-action scenario, in co-creation with national and international stakeholders. Each scenario will be examined via a walk-through methodology to understand their respective strengths/weaknesses, costs/benefits, other positive/negative impacts or their contextual relevance, and subsequently validated with stakeholders. The project will focus predominantly on gender-related inequalities in research and innovation, and will incorporate an intersectional perspective where possible. It will take place over a 2-year period, and consider not only the EU and its Member States but also relevant countries for gender equality certification/award systems such as NO, IS, CH, US or AU.