This resource toolkit addresses the integration of the gender perspective into scientific research as a key challenge for contemporary science policy. It starts from the recognition that gender equality is a fundamental human right, embedded in international frameworks, European regulations, and national legal systems. At the same time, persistent inequalities in research institutions highlight the need to modernize universities and improve human resource management through a gender-sensitive approach.
The document situates this challenge within the Spanish system of science, technology and innovation, characterized by increasing internationalization, the consolidation of a competitive research community, and a transition towards a knowledge-based economy. Within this context, recent legislation has incorporated gender as a cross-cutting dimension of scientific research, aiming to ensure equal opportunities and visibility for women in fields where they have traditionally been underrepresented.
The project was led by Professor Teresa Freixes and coordinated by our chairholder Inés Sánchez de Madariaga, including the contribution by Maria Àngels Gensana, Mercè Salas and Fanny Zapata.
In response, the toolkit offers practical resources—guidelines, indicators, legal frameworks, and institutional strategies—to support universities in embedding gender perspectives across research processes. Its ultimate goal is to enhance both the quality and excellence of scientific systems by promoting more inclusive, equitable, and socially responsive research environments.