Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Since February 2010: Commissioner for Research, Innovation & Science, DG Research, Innovation & Science

"It is clear that time alone will not redress the under-representation of women in research or scientific leadership. Specific measures are needed to support women's scientific careers, and to address gender factors in the research process, with a view to improving quality. This will also help enhance scientific excellence in Europe. The European Gender Summit will show how these issues can be tackled more effectively through collaboration between scientists, gender research scholars and policy makers. The programme sessions will draw on solid research evidence to demonstrate that improved action on gender equality can yield improved creativity, better scientific results and more successful organisations."

Giles Chichester Vice-President of the European Parliament and responsible for STOA (Scientific Technology Options Assessment for the European Parliament)

“As society looks towards science to help solve the many challenges ahead, it expects research and innovation that is more responsible and responsive to societal needs. Europe needs to improve its research and innovation strategy to gain better returns on investment in scientific and technical capital. Gender equality and diversity represent key elements of ensuring quality of human scientific resources and science knowledge. Supported by extensive research evidence on the gender dimension in science, the Gender Summit provides a new forum to shape sustainable research and innovation policies in which women and men play an equally effective and creative role."

Dr Maria Elżbieta Orłowska, Secretary of State of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education

"Europe needs fresh stimuli to invigorate its existing R&D systems in light of Horizon 2020 and Innovation Union objectives. The EU has the potential to improve return on investment in its knowledge system by expanding women’s participation and role in research and innovation.  Europe has an important competitive advantage globally in the form of the very high proportion of women participating in both higher education and employment. This human capital resource is also a potential target for developing new markets for innovation, which so far has been largely overlooked.  By addressing women's needs, preferences and purchasing power (both, in Europe and globally), new ideas and new opportunities for research and innovation can be created.  Important trends towards personalization of products and services, on the one hand, and the grand challenges facing society, on the other, call for new approaches to innovation in areas where gender differences are important, such as health, aging, security, content, media, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, food, transport, energy, climate change and others."

Professor Marja Makarow, Chief Executive, European Science Foundation

“Welcome to the First European Gender Summit. It is our pleasure to host a wide community of engaged researchers and policy makers from all over Europe and beyond. Research and innovation need the best and brightest to challenge dogmas, confront unsolved problems and come up with new findings, perspectives and discoveries that improve our lives and strengthen our societies. We need to engage all talented individuals, and create opportunities and equal playing fields to benefit from their skills, expertise, and creativity. This goal is unlikely to be met if we let gender prejudices or societal barriers keep in the shadow almost half of the research community. Just as we acknowledge the benefits of cross-disciplinary research and innovation, we should admit that men and women are equally valuable for the innovation enterprise. More effective bottom –up and top-down efforts at all levels of the educational and professional chain have to be combined in order to make this happen, ensuring that also women realise their potential to yield their best. Passive measures have proven to be insufficient. It is time for action. Let us share our ideas and trigger change in the European Research Area and beyond."

Dr Ángeles Rodríguez-Peña, President of the COST Committee of Senior Officials

"The European Union regards gender balance as a key contributor to innovation yet recognises that more specific measures are required to reach the goals of an increasingly dynamic European Research Area. This Gender Summit is the place to kick start a much-needed structural change that would allow us to keep up with other social spheres and marketplaces. COST contributes to and fully supports the deep change in the institutional mindset of the research and innovation players - such as policy-makers, funding bodies, universities and companies - that will unlock the full potential of European society."

Professor Rolf Tarrach, President, University of Luxembourg

"The Gender Summit provides opportunity for policy makers, gender experts and scientists to engage in an open dialogue on how the quality of knowledge production and research can be improved through gender mainstreaming.   It is important that knowledge of the effects of gender balance is publicized and integrated into discussions about gender mainstreaming within scientific institutions, on a European and national levels, and crossing cultural and linguistic barriers, in order to promote structural change."