Second Meeting of Spanish Stakeholders´ Group-GRANDIS
The Society for the Regional Development of Cantabria, S.A. (SODERCAN) held the second regional workshop of the European GRANDIS project in Cantabria. It was attended by the Directorate General for Innovation, Technological Development and Industrial Entrepreneurship alongside SODERCAN and eight other European partners.
The project presents ambitious challenges on the path to the green transition and the new digital era, led by female entrepreneurs.
Representatives from entities that play a crucial role in addressing the challenges posed by the GRANDIS project took part in this collaborative workshop. These included the Cantabria Chamber of Commerce, the Torrelavega Chamber of Commerce, the Cantabrian Rural Development Network, the Liébana Local Action Group, and the Santander International Entrepreneurship Centre (CISE).
We reflected on what women need from the political context to facilitate their access to entrepreneurship, seeking solutions to current challenges—specifically in the areas of digitalisation and the green transition. To this end, we worked in two groups: one focused on culture, attitudes, skills, and the balance between work and personal life; the other on access to financial support, resources, and networking and support services.
The aim was to identify the challenges women face, analyse underlying assumptions and systemic barriers, and propose improvements and potential solutions to reduce these barriers and promote the visibility of women entrepreneurs.
The challenge lies in closing the gender gap, addressing the need for more women professionals in digital, green, and clean technology sectors, and creating supportive environments for the establishment of businesses that drive this dual transition. Collaboration is key to achieving these goals.
This workshop marked significant progress in identifying strategies and measures to support women's access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in sectors related to digitalisation and sustainability. The gender gap remains a challenge in these areas, and GRANDIS is actively working to create environments that encourage greater female participation in the digital and green economy.