INSPIRING ERA publishes new factsheet on equality monitoring in the European Research Area

The INSPIRING ERA project has released a factsheet on "Equality Monitoring in the European Research Area." It is the third thematic fact sheet of the project and explores key concepts, current challenges, and practical approaches to tracking progress in gender equality and inclusiveness across research and innovation systems. It also highlights good practices and provides actionable recommendations to support more coherent and effective monitoring frameworks.

The factsheet explores how robust monitoring—supported by political ownership, dedicated staff, and coordinated indicators—is essential for accountability and continuous improvement. It emphasises the need to integrate intersectional perspectives and move beyond tracking simple compliance toward measuring outcome-oriented changes, such as institutional culture shift and leadership diversity.

Designed for policymakers, funders, and research organisations, this factsheet offers actionable recommendations—from gender budgeting at the national level to linking monitoring with funding conditionality. These practical approaches are designed to help build a more inclusive and competitive European Research Area.

INSPIRING ERA is a Horizon Europe project that supports researchers, research and higher education institutions, and innovation actors in understanding and applying the outcomes of the ERA. It helps turn policy into practice by connecting the people who create ERA policies with those who are affected by them and make use of them on the ground.

For more information:

INSPIRING ERA website

INSPIRING ERA Factsheet - Equality Monitoring in the European Research Area