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European Innovation Council
  • Conferences and summits

Gender Gap in Investments - Opening Event

Join this event in Brussels on 24 September 2024!

The Gender Gap in Investments project is a European Parliament Pilot Project implemented by the European Commission, aimed at addressing the significant disparities in investment that exist between women-led companies and women-led funds. 

The core objective of this initiative is to develop a comprehensive study that will establish a harmonized methodology for robust and systematic data collection. This methodology will serve as the foundation for accurately assessing the gender investment gap, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to identify and understand the underlying issues more effectively. 

To gather qualitative insights and foster collaboration, the project organised a series of local events across 10 different countries between September 2024 and June 2025. 

The purpose of this specific event in Brussels was to create a space to discuss what is the situation in the Benelux region regarding Gender Gap in Investments.

  • gender equality | investment | innovation
  • Tuesday 24 September 2024, 09:30 - 20:00 (CEST)
  • Brussels, Belgium

Programme

  1. 24 Sep 2024, 09:30 - 10:00 (CEST)
    Registration
  2. 10:00 - 10:30 (CEST)
    Opening remarks

    iLna Gálvez, MEP, ITRE Committee Anna Panagopoulou, Director for ERA and Innovation, DG RTD

    Moderator: Mali Baum, EIC Board Member, CEO of WLOUNGE

  3. 10:30 - 11:30 (CEST)
    Panel 1: Bridging the Gap: Policies, Instruments, and Solutions for Gender Equality in Investments

    Agnieszka Wojdyr, Access to finance, gender-smart investment DG GROW

    Carmen Vera Garcia, Advisor responsible for Responsible for Gender-Smart Advisory programmes European Investment Bank

    Shiva Dustdar, Director of European Investment Bank Institute 

    Jean-David Malo, Director European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) 

    Moderator: Mali Baum, EIC Board Member, CEO of WLOUNGE

  4. 11:30 - 12:00 (CEST)
    Coffee break
  5. 12:00 - 13:00 (CEST)
    Panel 2: Driving Gender Equality: Key Findings from European Women in VC 2024 report and Lessons from the Leaders

    Silvia Manca, Head of Social Impact Programmes at European Investment Fund

    Victoria Hernandez, Non-executive Director (NED) at Caixa Bank Payments & Consumer 

    Anu Meerwaldt, Development Manager at Spark Finland 

    Nora Bavey, General Partner at Unconventional VC

    Moderator:  Kinga Stanislawska, EIC Ambassador, former EIC Board Member, EIC pilot Advisory Board Member

  6. 13:00 - 14:00 (CEST)
    Lunch
  7. 14:00 - 15:00 (CEST)
    Panel 3: A Transformed Europe: The Long-Term Impact of Closing the Gender Gap

    Alain Heureux, Business and Training Expert in Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

    Isabella Lenarduzzi, Founder and Managing Director of JUMP – Solutions for equity at work

    Anne-Charlotte Joubert, Founder of Wonderfund, Founding member of European Female Founders Forum, and Coordinator of the HER FUND project 

    Gaelle Helsmoortel, Chairwoman Women on Board 

    Moderator: Mali Baum, EIC Board Member, CEO of WLOUNGE

  8. 15:00 - 16:30 (CEST)
    Gender roundtables (4 in parallel)
    1. Empowering Gender Equality in Belgium: Local Solutions Through Policy, Advisory, and Awareness Initiatives - Moderator: Isabella Lenarduzzi, Founder and Managing Director of JUMP – Solutions for equity at work 
    2. Local Initiatives and Their Shortcomings: Charting the Way Forward for Gender Equality in Belgium - Moderator: Thomas Rulmont, Country Manager Belgium Lita.co
    3. Creating a More Inclusive and Balanced Financing Environment in Belgium - Moderator: Rein Meirte, Founder Clusity 
    4. Tracking Gender Trends in Belgium: Enhancing Data Collection and Monitoring for Comparative Analysis - Moderator: Tanya Suarez, CEO & Founder BluSpecs
  9. 16:30 - 17:00 (CEST)
    Coffee break
  10. 17:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
    Start up Spotlight

    1. Tatjana Paulauskienė, CEO & Founder Inobiostar 

    2. Cristina Vilarmau Marsinyach, Innovation Manager MiMARK 

    3. Kathy Vredeveldt, Co-founder InPhocal 

    4. Mireia Riera Serdà, Commercial Director Keybotic 

    5. Julie Neuville – Chairwoman MATERRUP 

    Moderator: Mali Baum, EIC Board Member, CEO of WLOUNGE

  12. 18:00 - 20:00 (CEST)
    Networking Cocktail

Practical information

When
Tuesday 24 September 2024, 09:30 - 20:00 (CEST)
Where
Sparks Meeting
Rue Ravenstein 60, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Languages
English