Women in Big Science Business Forum aims at creating a space, a community where different entities, public and private, research and industry, operating in Big Science can interact, share experiences, define actions to increase the participation and advancement of women in the Big Science ecosystem and even further into society. Big Science Business Forum (BSBF), being a main meeting point in Europe for high technology and innovation, research Infrastructures and industry, offers the perfect opportunity.

Big Science projects in the past have been underexplored regarding their potential to foster inclusion and their potential high positive impact on society. We considered Big Science as an Ecosystem which offers a unique environment to advance gender equality and human capital by exploring links and synergies between different entities, by combining knowledge and practices, by putting together public and private bodies and investments.

As WBSBF we organized a first series of events for the BSBF2022 with very good participation and successful in fostering the exchange of ideas and practices.

In BSBF 2024 we are repeating the successful formula of 2022 and BSBF 2024 will host a plenary WBSBF session, under the theme:

“Big Science Projects: an opportunity for policy makers to foster inclusion and gender balance”.

We have chosen this subject, considering this theme reflects current EU’s concerns such as

1. socially responsible and gender sensitive public procurement practice;
2. gender mainstreaming into all policies and programs;
3. socio-economic impact of investment in big science.

The Roundtable discussion will be moderated by Elizabeth Pollitzer who has 20 years of experience in efforts to achieve gender equality and diversity in science and will feature participation from leading and relevant experts in the field.