The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Women Inventors Special Interest Group (WISIG) has published a survey exploring the roles and experiences of academic women involved in innovation, invention, and/or entrepreneurship.
The report, titled “Engaging More Women in Academic Innovation: Findings and Recommendations,” outlines the key findings and offers specific recommendations based on interviews with respondents.
Almost all of the women interviewed say their motivation to work in university innovation was to see their research applied in the real world. Here are some other key findings from the survey:
- About three-quarters of the respondents were aware of tech transfer programs at their universities, and three-quarters of those women participated.
- However, fewer women were aware of entrepreneurship training at their universities, and significantly fewer of those women participated.
- Only a handful of respondents were aware of any training or education programs specifically geared towards women innovators.
- Mentorship was referenced repeatedly as something respondents wished they had access to.
- Some respondents viewed their tech transfer offices as helpful, while others felt a lack of assistance or, in some cases, discrimination.
The recommendations put forth in the report are aimed at tech transfer offices and commercialization policy makers and are meant to help drive systemic changes and foster the inclusion of more women inventors in the innovation ecosystem. The report suggests the following actions:
- Provide accessible educational opportunities that address the unique challenges faced by women innovators and offer insights and tools for overcoming them.
- Provide mentors who are relatable to women innovators and can help guide them through the commercialization process, rather than putting women innovators in rooms where the mentors and other staff members are all men who haven’t lived through the unique challenges women face.
- Get federal funding agencies to require evidence of a documented institutional Diversity and Inclusion Plan as a weighted criteria on all grant applications.
- Track various demographic metrics of invention disclosures and patent applications.
Source: All Together
