“Women Board Up” signed an agreement to favor female leadership in scientific-technological companies

The researcher from the Catholic University of Maule, Aparna Banerjee, who attended the ceremony in Santiago, said that the agreement offers a model for regions.

The scientist from the Catholic University of Maule (UCM), Aparna Banerjee, described the agreement between the “Women Board Up” association and the UC Innovation Center as a “model to replicate”, which seeks to promote the leadership of women in companies scientific-technological base.

The academic attended the signing ceremony in Santiago, on behalf of the Research Center for Advanced Studies of Maule (CIEAM), belonging to the regional campus.

“It has been motivating. Women in innovation are very brave. The head of the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies at UCM is made up only of women, but there are still many spaces out there where equality does not exist. Perhaps it is time to do something similar, as a model to replicate,” said the microbiologist, a native of India.

“As a foreigner, I think there are more opportunities in this country, but there is still no equality. The responsibility of women with their families is still greater than that of men, and there we have to move forward, ”she affirmed.

The event was led by the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Flavio Salazar, who highlighted the moment of change that Chile is going through.

“We are at a time of important transformations, which are aligned with the objectives that we have set from the Government and from the Ministry of Science, to strengthen the participation of women in the ecosystem of innovation, science and technology. We know that historically they have been marginalized (…) and this agreement is a concrete advance for a better understanding, but above all incorporation, of the gender perspective”, she pointed out.

During the ceremony, the director of “Women Board Up”, Varinka Farren, announced the creation of an Academy for Women Directors of Science-Technology Based Companies, which aims to promote the transfer of knowledge and enhance the presence of women in managerial spaces and of decision.

“We will deliver different tools, from how to get financing to how corporate governance works and what my responsibilities are as a director. Many times women get scared when taking risks, but now we will take informed risks, with contention behind it, “she asserted.

The day ended with the discussion “Breaking down barriers to generate innovation with impact”, whose exhibitors also highlighted the urgency of increasing the number of women in science-technology-based entrepreneurship and companies. According to the last record raised by the Ministry of Science in November 2021, 20% of the business units in this field declare that they do not have any women among their collaborators.