Western Greece Hosts 4th WeSTEMEU Stakeholder Meeting

The Region of Western Greece recently hosted the 4th Stakeholder Meeting of the European project WeSTEMEU – Women for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Europe. The meeting, brought together key regional stakeholders at the headquarters of the Region of Western Greece, with the support of the Institute of Computer Technology & Publications “Diophantus”.

As a partner in WeSTEMEU, the Region of Western Greece is committed to promoting women’s participation in STEM fields, aligning with the European Skills Agenda and the EU Directive on work-life balance. The meeting served as a platform for consultation between policymakers, businesses, and development agencies, reinforcing the region’s strategic focus on inclusion, equal opportunities, and women’s empowerment.

Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship, Research, and Innovation, Takis Papadopoulos, opened the event by highlighting the project’s role in advancing key priorities of the Regional Operational Program. He emphasized the importance of active participation and the need for policies that enhance employment opportunities for women.

The discussion was further enriched by Chrys. Stylios, researcher at the Industrial Systems Institute (ISI) and project team member at CTI “Diophantus”, who underlined the role of regional institutions in increasing female representation in the labor market.

The meeting included an overview of the project's progress and upcoming actions, with a focus on the role of local stakeholders in its success. Representatives from the Patras Science Park, the Industrial Systems Institute of the ATHENA Research Center, and the Region of Western Greece actively participated in discussions. Key topics included strengthening communication strategies to showcase the project’s impact and sharing best practices for boosting female employment and entrepreneurship in STEM.

Looking ahead, WeSTEMEU partners and stakeholders will convene in Poland on May 27-28, 2025, for the 5th Project Study Visit. The next regional meeting in Western Greece will take place after this visit to review insights and plan the next steps in fostering gender equality in STEM.