Biopol’H attended the first meeting of the programme fem.talent, which was held at the Lleida Agri-Food Science and Technology Park (PCiTAL). Entitled “Women on the Boards of Directors,” the conference was aimed at discussing what the role of women should be with regard to the positions of responsibility of the companies belonging to XPCAT (Network of Science and Technology of Catalonia).

The presence of men is still higher in the field of science and technology, as it is clear from the study by fem.talent, which shows that the XPCAT personnel consists of 37,000 men and 16,000 women. This means that only 31% of employees in XPCAT are women compared to the 45% that the Economically Active Population Survey (EPA) measured for Catalonia.

Another conclusion drawn by the study is that in the XPCAT companies there are also more men in the decision-making positions and positions of responsibility than women, even though they both have similar educational levels. To be precise the study reveals that 10.8% men occupy management positions whereas only 8.2% of women do. Therefore, according to the data from the study, the women in XPCAT are grouped together in professional categories and have a lower salary compared to men.    

The conference was opened by Ramon Bonastre, General Manager of Industrial Relations of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and had the participation of Josep Clotet, PCiTAL manager; Josep Miquel Piqué, chairman of the XPCAT, and several women with work experience in positions of responsibility such as Beatriz Soler, from ESADE Business School; Conxita Villar, director of Forum Empresa; Anna Simón, partner of Algoritmia Technology Specialists; Mònica Cabado, partner of Grup Sofos, and Esther Casademont, General Director of  Caucus, a consultancy specializing in adviser people.  

This event inaugurates a new cycle of meetings that will be organized by fem.talent in various parks of Catalonia in order to foster networks and value the talent of women scientists, technologists or businesswomen, who develop their activity in a park of the country. Next meeting will take place in the Biopol’H area.