EPO Study Highlights Slow Progress for Women in STEM and Patenting

A new report from the European Patent Office (EPO) Observatory on Patents and Technology reveals that progress in closing the gender gap in STEM innovation remains slow, with women continuing to face structural barriers in inventive activity, patent entrepreneurship, and patent-related professions. Released ahead of International Women’s Day, the study provides timely evidence to support the EU Gender Equality Strategy, the European Research Area objectives, and Europe’s broader push for technological sovereignty under the New European Innovation Agenda.

According to the findings, women accounted for 13.8% of inventors in Europe in 2022 with a modest increase from 13% in 2019. While participation in mixed inventor teams has grown (from 21.6% to 24.1% over the same period), women remain significantly underrepresented as individual inventors and as founders of patenting start-ups. The data point to persistent structural challenges that continue to limit women’s full participation in high-impact innovation.

The study also uncovers notable differences across countries and sectors. Portugal and Spain show comparatively smaller gender gaps and encouraging upward trends. Sectoral variations are even more pronounced: women are most strongly represented in pharmaceuticals (34.9%), biotechnology (34.2%), and food chemistry (32.3%), reflecting their established presence in life sciences. By contrast, some of the most patent-intensive engineering fields, including machine tools (5.7%), basic communication processes (5.5%), and mechanical elements (4.9%) remain overwhelmingly male-dominated.

Institutional context also matters. Universities and public research organisations report the highest share of women inventors (24.4%), while participation rates are lowest among smaller businesses. 

Read the full study.