"More than 350 experts from over 40 countries, mainly from industry, but also from research institutions and organisations, academia, national governments, international organisations and statistical offices met in Berlin to discuss how to enrich European research and competitiveness by recruiting, retaining and promoting more women in industrial R&D. There was a clear consensus that there is an urgent business need to improve gender diversity in European research. Discussions on good practice and effective strategies drew upon the WIR -report: Women in industrial research. A wake up call for European industry, which presented data for Europe for the first time, introduced by Prof. Dr. Helga Rübsamen-Waigmann (Bayer AG), who chaired the expert group and the rapporteur, Prof. Dr. Teresa Rees (University of Cardiff). This information has been supplemented by the WIR- study: Women in industrial research. Analysis of statistical data and good practices of companies, presented by Prof. Dr. Danièle Meulders (Université Libre de Bruxelles), who headed this international research project, and the publication: Women in industrial research. Good practice in companies in Europe, which presents company-level data, examples of good practice, and role models from 20 companies and private non-profit research institutions from 12 different European countries."

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