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Successful completion of the event titled “Women and STEM: Sharing Knowledge, Shaping Policies” of the European Project WeSTEMEU, in the framework of the 28th Development Forum.

The event titled “Women and STEM: Sharing Knowledge, Shaping Policies,” organized in the framework of the European project “Women for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Europe (WeSTEMEU)”, was successfully held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, as part of the 28th Development Forum. The event took place in the “ARTEMIS” Hall at MyWay Hotel, in Patras.

The event was inaugurated with a greeting from the Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship, Research, and Innovation of the Western Greece Region (PDE), Mr. Takis Papadopoulos, who referred to the WeSTEMEU project, the participating organizations, its purpose, actions, and its significance for the Western Greece Region, especially in terms of policies and development.

Following this, the floor was given to the Director of the Industrial Systems Institute of ATHENA RC, Professor Chrysostomos Stylios, who also acted as a moderator of the event. He provided an introduction to the purpose of the event and highlighted key issues regarding increasing women's participation in STEM fields, especially in leadership positions. Then, he presented the invited speakers, their backgrounds, and their academic and professional paths so far.

An exceptionally interesting and targeted presentation was then delivered by Ms. Evangelia Papadimitriou, Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras. Ms. Papadimitriou, who also participates in the Equality Committee of the University of Patras, presented detailed data on issues of equality and gender ratio within the organization, and highlighted issues related to women in leadership and executive roles, particularly in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), where female representation remains very low. Her reference to research activity data was especially notable, showing that the number of women leading research projects is also significantly limited.

Following her presentation, the discussion opened with a series of questions about the difficulties and challenges faced by the participants in their careers so far, the current critical issues in promoting women’s presence in STEM fields, potential solutions, and the prospects and optimism that the future holds.

Ms. Papadimitriou shared her own experiences as a woman in the Health Sciences sector, emphasizing the importance of balancing family and professional life and the support needed from the state for women in this regard.

Next, Ms. Stavroula (Voula) Georgopoulou, Professor in the Department of Speech Therapy and former Dean of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Patras, spoke about her own experience in universities and companies in Greece and the United States of America. She highlighted issues of presence, recognition, and compensation for women in male-dominated fields—herself being an Electrical Engineer—and underscored the importance of collaboration and practical interdisciplinary approaches to support the presence of young women in STEM fields and related sectors.

Then, Ms. Vasiliki Liagkou, Associate Professor at the University of Ioannina and Scientific Coordinator of the WeSTEMEU project for the Institute of Computer Technology & Press (CTI) “Diophantus,” talked about her career in the field of Informatics—being the only woman currently in the faculty at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications at the University of Ioannina—and addressed topics such as good practices, mentoring, and familiarization with advanced technological tools for female students in STEM, aiming to enhance their training and self-confidence to more easily claim leadership and managerial positions in the future.

Finally, Ms. Maggy Cambisopoulou, a legal expert and collaborator on the WeSTEMEU project from the Western Greece Region, presented another perspective on the issue. She discussed policy matters, best practices implemented through the project in Greece and abroad, the importance of promoting women role models from secondary education to all students, and also addressed legal and regulatory issues that play a crucial role in the project's challenges.

The discussion concluded with questions from the audience directed at the panel of speakers and an invitation for everyone to participate in upcoming project activities, which continues actively and will be completed in 2027.

The Region of Western Greece and the Institute of Computer Technology & Press “Diophantus” (CTI) participate as partners in the European project “Women for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Europe (WeSTEMEU)” under the INTERREG EUROPE 2021-2027 Program, which aims to enhance women’s presence in STEM fields.

The ultimate goal of WeSTEMEU is to contribute to a better gender balance and make the STEM sector more aligned with the social, economic, and environmental needs of both genders. At the same time, it will address the demand for new jobs and innovative sustainable development in the current knowledge economy. Lastly, the long-term impact of the project will also play a role in reducing the pay gap between men and women, as women will more frequently enter higher-paying jobs compared to traditional “women’s” sectors (www.interregeurope.eu/westemeu).