The level of female entrepreneurship across Europe remains low despite increasing focus, effort, and a positive trend in equality between women and men in society. Only one-third of those involved in entrepreneurship in Europe are women. Only 36% of Romanian entrepreneurs, 21% of Norwegian entrepreneurs and 26% of Icelandic entrepreneurs are women.
Why does the gender disparity in entrepreneurship remain? Can it be attributed to factors such as access to finance, limited access to networks, role models, and mentors, cultural and societal norms, education and skills level, or is this changing in line with the radical changes in technological development?
Amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for change: the green technology. This shift towards sustainability is not just about combating climate change but also about driving innovation, creating jobs, and bolstering economic resilience. Women entrepreneurs are pivotal in this transition, offering diverse perspectives and leadership that can lead to more inclusive and effective solutions.
The Women in Green Tech Summit seeks to address both the challenges and opportunities. The summit aims to showcase successful projects, foster partnerships and promote cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. In doing so, it not only advances gender equality, create a network and accelerates progress towards a sustainable future where women contribute.
The event will gather up to 100 participants from Romania and the region of Central, Southern and Northern Europe. It will bring together female entrepreneurs, policy-drivers, decision-makers and financial experts with insights on how to boost entrepreneurship in the EU and across more than 10 countries in Europe.
09:30 – 10:00 Welcome coffee
10:00 – 11:00 Plenary
Moderator: Ana-Maria Axenia and Rannveig S. Gimse, Innovation Norway
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome from the moderation
10:10 – 10:20 Welcome from the Norwegian Ambassador
10:20 – 10:30 Welcome from Innovation Norway
10:30 – 10:40 State of play in Europe (Women Tech EU)
10:40 – 10:50 State of play in Norway
10:50 – 11:05 State of play in Romania, Hildegard Brandl, Vice-President of CONAF National Confederation for Female Entrepreneurship, Director of the architectural studio UNITH2B Architects, Entrepreneur and Member of the Coalition for the Development of Romania
11:05 – 11:15 Wrap up by the moderators
11:15 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:45 Panel 1 - EEA and Norway Grants support female entrepreneurs around Europe
Moderator: Magnar Ødelien, Director of the EEA and Norway Grants, Innovation Norway
11:20 – 11:30 Intro to the EEA and Norway Grants and its aim to boost female entrepreneurship in the upcoming financial period
11:30 – 11:40 Iceland and Women in Energy
11:40 – 11:50 Poland and the Open Call for Female Entrepreneurs
11:50 – 12:00 Greece and Gender Equality in Business
12:00 – 12:10 Portugal and the Gender Equality Programme
12:10 – 12:20 Latvia (TBD)
12:20 – 12:45 Q&A discussion
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 14.20 WINGATE, a project and a community that increased competitiveness of female entrepreneurs in cooperation between Hungary, Moldova, Norway, Serbia and Romania.
14:20 – 15:10 Succes stories from women in green tech
Startups and female entrepreneurs funded through the EEA and Norway Grants to innovation (TBA)
Moderator: Mihai Stefanescu, Innovation Norway
15:10 – 15:25 Break
15:25 – 16:30 Final reflections and the way forward for female entrepreneurship
Potential Speakers: Experts in entrepreneurship, green technologies and gender equality in the tech industry.
Speakers from Romania, Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway and the EU (TBA) and discussions in the room.
Moderator: Rannveig S. Gimse, Innovation Norway
16:30 – 17:30 Networking