To provide women in manufacturing environments with the necessary skills to start and grow their own business or develop their professional careers, whether in academia or industry, rising to management and leadership positions.
Entities with women in leadership positions are more effective, more productive and fairer, for their organisations and society. Manufacturing businesses however suffer from a severe gender gap, partly due to manufacturing having a negative image and STEM careers being primarily embraced by men.
Women in Manufacturing is a leadership programme designed, piloted and rolled-out in 7 European countries (Spain, Italy, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania and Ireland).
Our project is funded by EIT Manufacturing.
EIT Manufacturing establishes an innovation community and build a network of ecosystems where people can acquire skills and find opportunities; and where innovators are able to attract investors and accede venture capital.
The manufacturing industry is a global base for prosperity and key to Europe’s economic, social and environmental sustainability. Manufacturing is a main driver of industrial innovation, job creation and growth for the European society.
Find out about EIT Manufacturing more on https://www.eitmanufacturing.eu/
CTAG – The Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia (Centro Tecnológico de Automoción de Galicia), is a private non-profit research center created in 2002 with c.a 1000 employees to carry out R&D activities in the field of mobility created to offer advanced technological solutions to the automotive sector.
Their modern facilities incorporate cutting-edge technology designed to provide world class service to the customer.
CTAG is currently participating and mentoring start-ups in 2 acceleration programmes of the EIT UM and in 3 promoted by the Galician Regional Government (Business Factory Auto, BFAero, High Tech Auto). Furthermore, CTAG has experience in delivering and monitoring leadership programmes through the H2020 project MINDTHEGEPs (GA No. 101006543) mainly focused on supporting skills development, deconstructing unconscious gender bias, supporting women in their self-selection into leadership, breaking down stereotypes on the nature of leadership at the top, breaking down structural barriers to women’s participation in research funding panels, promoting gender-sensitive research, etc. CTAG also contributes with different women-centered projects such as Inspira STEM and women’s associations (Women in AI)
UCD is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities and is host to I-Form, Ireland’s national research centre for advanced manufacturing. It is active in supporting the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in STEM (EDI policy, Athena Swan Bronze award, Women @STEM group). I-Form also contributed in growing the Irish chapter of Women in 3D printing. UDC also hosts an Annual UCD Women in Leadership conference.
Established in 1859, Politecnico di Torino (POLITO) is the oldest technical University in Italy and one of the most prestigious public institutions in Italy for education and research in engineering, architecture and design. Ranking among the first forty technical universities in the world, it is globally recognized as a high quality centre for education and research. At POLITO around 1.000 Professors and Researchers carry out research and provide education to 37.000 students, of which 5.000 international from more than 120 countries, on a wide catalogue of degree courses including 16 PhD courses and 30 MSc courses, of which 60% in English. Its international education network features 1.000 agreements with EU and non-EU universities and international campuses in China and Uzbekistan. POLITO’s experience in European projects is in research as well as international mobility and cooperation in programmes such as Horizon 2020, FP6-7, Erasmus+, LLP, Erasmus Mundus, TEMPUS, and EuropeAid. Throughout the years POLITO has proved to be one of the top Italian universities for volume of international collaborations and quality of the results achieved. At POLITO there is also The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC) hosted by the Technology Transfer Lab. The Center brings together competences and skills of scholars that are active in the study of innovation and entrepreneurship along several complementary dimensions, ranging from the strategic management of technology to the entrepreneurial finance and the dynamics of local innovation systems. The Center also benefit from the hands-on experience of entrepreneurs and investors.
Cleantech Bulgaria is a business network for sustainable development working closely with national and local authorities, academia and research, business, and entrepreneurs for nurturing the sustainable development in the country through multiple innovation and educational projects, technology transfer, capacity building activities and business creation services under diverse national and EU programmes. Cleantech Bulgaria is an official partner of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and Hub Manager for the EIT RIS Hubs in Bulgaria of EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Manufacturing and EIT Food. The company is pioneers the knowledge triangle integration model in the country and is a trusted partner of national and regional authorities and private organizations for tackling diverse socio-economic challenges through innovation deployment. In addition, Cleantech Bulgaria holds 10+ years of experience in managing acceleration and incubation programmes for green tech start-ups under different EU programmes and is a recognized key player in Bulgaria for nurturing the innovation ecosystem.
FabLab Bosnia and Herzegovina is innovation-driven Research and Technology (RTO) organization that develops innovative and research platforms with aim to improve research infrastructure, develop cutting-edge technologies, and accelerate innovation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H).
Their modern facilities incorporate cutting-edge technology designed to provide world class service to the customer.
FabLab is EIT Manufacturing core partner. Since the very beginning, we had a vision of equally divided roles between men and women, and we can proudly say we have successfully fulfilled it to this day. We are national and regional chapter host for “Women in 3D printing”.
LINPRA, the Engineering and technology industries association of Lithuania, is an independent self-governing business association of nearly 140 member organizations – business companies and educational institutions. Both, nationally and internationally, LINPRA represents the interests of the Lithuanian metal, machinery and equipment, electro-mechanics and electronics, plastics and rubber, laser and other technology industries.
LINPRA’s aim is to promote sustainable growth and international competitiveness of industry’s companies. Fueling and accelerating Industry 4.0, LINPRA helps businesses reshape the way they work, digitize their processes, innovate and create, to keep up with other EU Member States. At the same time, in addition to public policy advocacy, LINPRA encourages advantage of clusterization, export development, settles relationships between businesses and other organizations across Europe and Lithuania, also aims for improved national education and high-quality employees’ training, to ensure that Lithuania has the right talent to realize the potential of its growing engineering and technology sector.
Dana is a global leader in drivetrain and e-Propulsion systems. Dana Incorporated has been transforming the mobility industry since its founding in 1904. Today, they are one of only 52 companies that has made the Fortune 500 list every year since it was first published in 1955 and remain one of the longest-standing companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
KUKA is an international automation group with sales of more than EUR 4 billion and around 15,000 employees. As one of the world’s leading suppliers of intelligent, resource-saving automation solutions, KUKA offers industrial robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMR) including controllers, software and cloud-based digital services as well as fully connected production systems for a wide range of industries – primarily for markets such as automotive with a focus on e-mobility & battery, electronics, metal & plastic, consumer goods, food, e-commerce, retail and healthcare. KUKA is active with over 100 locations in more than 50 countries.
Photo by Stina Lill
Photo from Tallinna Sadam gallery
Photo by Sigrid Proosvelt
Photo by Merle Värv
Photo from private gallery
Previously, as Audit Manager at the National Audit Office of Estonia, Kaire was involved in organizing and conducting audits in the fields of energy, environment, state infrastructure, transport and IT. She started her career as a consultant and project manager in the field of energy and environment. She holds a Master’s degree in Heat Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Environmental Protection Technology.
Photo by Jake Farra
Photo by Andras Kralla
Today Sirli leads the innovation-driven supply site in Tallinn, where latest 4G and 5G products are industrialized for clients all around the world.
Photo by Rauno Liivand