Agreement signed to strengthen female leadership in scientific-technological companies

The UC Innovation Center and Women Board Up sealed a collaboration agreement framed in the challenge of facing and reducing existing gaps in gender issues. The event was attended by the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Flavio Salazar, authorities and representatives of the public and private sectors and academia.

UC Communications.- In the constant search for a more equitable, inclusive and diverse society, it is that the Anacleto Angelini UC Innovation Center Y Women Board Up (WBU), formalized a collaboration agreement framed in the challenge of facing and reducing existing gaps in gender issuesprecisely in the context of the scientific-technological ecosystem.

The agreement, signed by the president of the Association of Directors of Science-Technology Based Companies Women Board Up, Varinka Farren, and the Vice Chancellor for Research of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Pedro Bouchon, was made in the presence of the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Flavio Salazar; in addition to relevant representatives of the national ecosystem of the public, private and academic sectors.

After this significant milestone, The mission of promoting the participation of women in the various sectors of society continues, through spaces dedicated to this challenge, such as the Women Board Up – UC Academy for Directors of EBCT (Science-Technology-Based Companies)training and certification program for women who work or want to profile themselves in managerial positions in scientific-technological companies.

Within the framework of the activity, a discussion was held “Breaking down barriers to generate innovation with impact”which featured a panel composed of Eugenia Olivares, director of UC Transfer and Development; Tatiana Camps, author of the book “Lead from the feminine”; Y Carolina Sepúlveda, co-founder WBU. In addition, in the instance participated Ramón Molina, executive director of the UC Innovation Centerwho acted as moderator, highlighting issues of female leadership, sustainability, innovation ecosystems, startup financing and corporate governance, among others.

“Universities play a fundamental role in the education and training of people and, therefore, are called to be spaces of full growth and development, contributing to the recognition of the work that care implies and the consequent strengthening of co-responsible practices, that demystify the assignment of roles and invite us to collectively walk the path towards equal opportunities”affirmed the vice-rector for Research Pedro Bouchon.

“This agreement comes hand in hand with that spirit, which is added to various instances, agreements and initiatives that promote progress towards greater gender equality, such as the Women and Academy Commissionthe Gender Equality Directorate of the Academic Vice President and the Gender InESBouchon added.

A necessary transformation

For her part, Varinka Farren, president of the Women Board Up Association of Directors of Science-Technology Based Companies, explained that “We seek to promote, through greater female participation on boards, the inclusive and sustainable development of science-technology-based companies and this alliance allows us to reach startups and accompany them in the transformation processes they need. The world and society are changing and, for this reason, we believe that it is time to understand the importance of having women in leadership positions, which is supported by the evidence that companies that have joint boards are more productive”.

“If we look at those countries that have done well in this area, as is the case of Iceland where concrete public policies have been implemented, such as equal parental leave for mothers and fathers, the law of equal pay for similar work and the law of quotas for boards of companies with 50 or more workers, we see that there is an increase in the economic participation of women, placing it as the country with the greatest equality in the world, which undoubtedly results in better performance of companies and well-being of the society”Farren added.

The association agreement summoned authorities of the ecosystem, being the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Flavio Salazar, who highlighted the initiative. “As a representative of the Government and the Ministry, I can comment that we have a primary gender agenda in all areas, particularly in the areas of science, technology, knowledge, innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and associativity. To highlight and work to strengthen the presence and role of women in the system, something that is very positive and of great value to us. That is why, on this occasion, we come to support and congratulate those who are working in Chile to bring the world of transference, technology and female entrepreneurship closer, with knowledge and universities”said the minister.

This collaboration agreement makes it possible to formalize and offer the ecosystem a suitable space for building communities, promoting learning and collaborative work, through the development of support networks, in a scenario that demands greater female leadership, such as companies in scientific-technological base of the country.