STEM-HER

Selected under Topic 1: EIT-HEI-2025-STEM-CAPACITY-BUILDING, STEM-HER supports Higher Education Institutions in addressing one of the most persistent gaps in European and neighbouring innovation ecosystems: women’s underrepresentation in STEM entrepreneurship, research commercialisation, and venture creation. The project focuses particularly on contexts where women have strong technical potential but face structural barriers in moving from STEM education and research into innovation-driven economic participation.

At the centre of STEM-HER is an AI-integrated entrepreneurship education model for women in STEM. The project will train female STEM students and PhD candidates through the IEM4W programme, while also preparing academic staff through a “Women in STEM” train-the-trainer programme and non-academic innovation staff through a dedicated micro-credential certification course. The training combines innovation, entrepreneurship, IP management, AI-supported business development, market analysis, commercialisation confidence, and investor communication.

STEM-HER also establishes Entrepreneurship Educators Hubs as institutional anchors for women-led STEM entrepreneurship education and support. These hubs are designed to help participating institutions sustain training, mentoring, innovation support, and cross-border cooperation beyond the project period. Through COIL learning, structured mentorship, a Startup Festival, Living Labs, policy papers, and cooperation with EIT Manufacturing, 28DIGITAL, and EIT Food, the project aims to build a more inclusive pathway from STEM talent to innovation, venture creation, and research-to-market impact.