Driving intersectional gender equality in biomedicine: the INCLUDE project at RSU

In an era where gender equality and inclusion are paramount, the INCLUDE project at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) stands as a beacon of progressive change. Spearheaded by a consortium of 11 partners from 10 European countries, this initiative aims to revolutionise Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) within the biomedical research sector.

INCLUDE is a two-year Coordination and Support Action (CSA) project (01/2025-12/2026) funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. The project's primary objective is to foster institutional changes by co-creating, implementing, and evaluating innovative measures to enhance GEPs in seven national biomedical research organizations (RPOs) and one private Research and Technology Organisation (RTO). This ambitious endeavour employs interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches to address the multifaceted challenges of gender inequality.

The inaugural meeting, held in Venice on 14-15 January (pictured above), marked a significant milestone. Coordinated by Smart Venice, this gathering brought together all partners, forming a geographically inclusive consortium that spans Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Europe. Over two days, participants aligned strategies, set project goals, and initiated the co-creation process for GEP pilot projects. The discussions underscored the importance of tailored training programs, mentoring schemes, thematic centers, and collaborative learning to bolster internal capacities and facilitate knowledge exchange across regions.

For Latvia and RSU, the INCLUDE project represents a crucial step forward. By participating in this Horizon-funded initiative, RSU is poised to promote innovative approaches to gender equality, enhancing both the academic environment and healthcare development in Latvia. While many organizations in Latvia are developing gender equality plans, RSU is taking the next step by evaluating the progress made over three years since the GEP's implementation, ensuring sustainable and inclusive changes within the institution.

RSU is represented in this project by researchers Diāna Kiščenko and Anna Žabicka. Looking ahead, the project will see the involvement of Assoc. Prof. Jana Kukaine in its second year. RSU will also take on the responsibility for task 4.3, "Sustainability for Promoting an Inclusive Gender Equality Plan (GEP)." This role will enable the RSU team to actively engage, learn best practices from partner organisations, and promote the development and implementation of sustainable GEPs within institutions.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG RTD or REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.