The Women's Entrepreneur Platform (WEP) along with the European Interest Group for Female Entrepreneurs hosted a lunch
debate in the European Parliament 'Ready for Business: Women's Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Europe'. Chairman Sirpa Pietikainen MEP opened the debate to praise women and the great contribution they make to the European economy.
WEP Chairman Grazia Rendo then highlighted the importance of education and training to enable more women into entrepreneurship and especially how vital STEM subjects. Dr Ulla Engelmann spoke about the importance of research, which has been mirrored by the work Pink Shoe is doing on the UK Economic Blueprint for Women.
The debate ended with positive news from Kirsi Haavisto of the European Commission's Research & Innovation that PhD students have achieved gender parity; however this is not yet the case with research funding where women have some way to go.