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𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 — 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.
Today, women represent just 19% of ICT specialists and around one third of STEM graduates in the EU. Unlocking this untapped potential could generate up to €16 bln annually for the EU economy — strengthening hashtag#innovation capacity and the resilience of the Single Market. 📊🚀
One striking development is the growing ubiquity of gender considerations across the Digital Agenda. From digital skills and AI governance to hashtag#cybersecurity and the future of work, gender is no longer a peripheral topic. It is increasingly recognised as a structural dimension of digital policy itself.
Against this backdrop, it was a pleasure participating in the Connecting Women In Digital and EU Digital & Tech event in Brussels - on the occasion of IWD - and in discussions shaping the next Women in Digital Declaration.
The exchange brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, civil society and experts to reflect on how to accelerate the participation of girls and women in ICT and strengthen the Digital Ecosystem. It was particularly encouraging to see the engagement of the EU policy makers including Executive VP Henna Virkkunen and MEP Elena Sancho Murillo.
As a member of the WiD Forum and advisor to women-led companies in digital, I was struck by the shared recognition that digital skills & digital literacy must be understood in a broad sense, encompassing not only technical capabilities, but also responsibility, security awareness and Digital Resilience.
In this context, the Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030 is particularly welcome. It provides a much-needed policy framework, embedding gender equality across key areas — from education and labour markets to political participation and the digital sphere — while addressing emerging challenges such as cyberviolence and the gender implications of AI.
💡 Here one key takeaway from the discussion.
Progress will require strong cooperation across the entire ecosystem, close coordination between EU and national levels, and an open dialogue guided by a Give-to-Gain approach, recognising that we are partners and allies in a shared endeavour.
On a more personal note, I enjoyed reconnecting with colleagues from the Women4Cyber community🛡️, an indispensable voice in the conversation on women in digital.

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