HIGHER PRESENCE OF FEMALE INVENTORS IN ITALY

Data from studies by Italian universities and public research bodies reveal a higher presence of female inventors in Italy than the European average, which stands at around 13.2%. With 14.3% of female inventors, Italy ranks sixteenth in Europe, well above Germany.

The European Patent Office (EPO) draws a significant line showing a substantial increase in female participation since the 1970s: women who have signed a patent have gone from 2% to 13% and are confirmed as leaders in the life sciences sector. In particular, chemistry stands out as the technology sector with the highest share of female inventors across Europe.

However, the fact that should make us think is another: the majority of women only deal with patent filing in the initial phase of their careers, and many of them abandon this important field either for maternity reasons or for family care, denouncing a clear lack of assistance

from the Italian state.

Furthermore, the study finds that women often work in inventor teams, playing a marginal role despite carrying out most of the studies and research aimed at filing patents.

Thus, while Italy remains an excellent country from the point of view of results, it is still lagging behind in terms of welfare and gender equality.

In this regard, the president of the EPO, Antonio Campinos, declared: "The promotion of women in science and innovation remains an important challenge for Europe, and constitutes a key factor for our future sustainability and competitiveness."

We hope that the words of the EPO president will become a reality and, above all, that female ingenuity will continue to grow in Italy and Europe, overcoming all gender discrimination, which unfortunately still exists in the field of patents and beyond.