In progress
Today, knowledge is the foundation on which development and progress are based. Scientific and technological research must therefore occupy a fundamental place in the social, economic and productive areas of our societies.
It is necessary to rely on science, research and innovation in order to overcome the challenge of fairly and respectfully exploiting Africa’s wealth and the balanced distribution of its revenues among all its citizens. Women must and want to be active participants on this challenge.
For this reason, the Women for Africa Foundation, true to its mission of contributing to the development of the continent through their women, launched the Science by Women program in 2014. It aims at promoting women’s access to science and technology, supporting them in their research careers, making their achievements visible and promoting their leadership in the international scientific community.
The program is very successful. We are now in its seventh edition, with a network of 25 research centers that have joined the program since its inception. A total of more than 100 African women researchers have benefited so far. The priority research areas are health; energy, water and climate change; and agriculture and food security.
To this end, we have the collaboration of the best research centers, most of them with the Severo Ochoa seal, whose national and international prestige guarantees excellence in scientific research in various fields. The centers are the following: the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), the National Biotechnology Center (CNB), the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT), the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), the Institute of Neuroscience (IN), the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), DeustoTech, Biocruces (BC), the Kronikgune Research Center (KRC), the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (BGSE), the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), the Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM), the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the Plataforma Oceanográfica de Canarias (PLOCAN), the Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biomédica y Sanitaria (IUIBS), POLYMAT, Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM), the Repsol Technology Center, the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (IAS), Biodonostia HRI, the University of Valencia-INCLIVA, the Prince Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB).
The project is funded by public institutions such as the Provincial Councils of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa and the Government of the Canary Islands, as well as by private companies such as ENDESA, Exolum, the Abertis Foundation and the State Foundation for Health, Childhood and Social Welfare (FCSAI).
Within the framework of the project, Science by Women has also facilitated the setting up of the networks N.O.W. IS Africa (Network Of Women Innovating In Science In Africa) with the aim to connect fellows from all editions, to promote cooperation between Spanish and European networks and to encourage the creation of joint regional Within the framework of the project, Science by Women has also facilitated the setting up of the networks N.O.W. IS Africa (Network Of Women Innovating In Science In Africa) with the aim to connect fellows from all editions, to promotes cooperation between Spanish and European networks and to encourages the creation of joint regional and international scientific cooperation projects between the academia, the research centers and the industry. and international scientific cooperation projects between the academia, the research centers and the industry.