Group photo

From Dec 12 to 13, 2024, the APEC Workshop on Women in STEM (hereinafter referred to as "the Workshop") was held in Beijing, China. The Workshop was held based on the fund project of APEC’s Policy Partnership for Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) —— "Women’s participation in STEM: a dialogue on APEC regional practices in promoting innovation and development". It aims to discuss the development and contribution of women in science and technology innovation, as well as to promote the exchange and practice of policies on women's science, technology and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The workshop was co-hosted by the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as the BJAST or the Academy), the ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the Think Tank Alliance), and the Network for International Cooperation on Technology Commercialization. It was jointly undertaken by the Center for International and Regional Cooperation of the BJAST and the International Technology Transfer Network（ITTN), and co-organized by China Women’s Association for Science and Technology, CAST UN Consultative Committee on Women Scientists and Gender Equality&Solidarity, and Beijing Women’s Association for Science and Technology. The workshop has received strong support from the APEC Secretariat and China Science and Technology Exchange Center. Nearly 100 government officials, researchers and youth representatives from more than 10 economies in the APEC region attended the workshop.

The moderator and guest speakers in the opening session of the seminar

On the morning of the 12th, the seminar was officially kicked off under the chairmanship of Xie Xin, vice president and secretary general of the China Association of Women in Science and Technology. The heads and representatives who delivered speeches in turn are as follows： Yang Xuemei, deputy director of China Science and Technology Exchange Center, representative of the Presidium of the mechanism of APEC’s Policy Partnership for Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), Vanessa Guest, counselor of Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) of the U.S. Embassy in China, Gao Ruiping, executive vice president of China Women’s Association for Science and Technology, Zhang Yulei, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, and Wu Jianmin, president of Beijing Academy of Science and Technology and chairman of the ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Alliance.

In Yang Xuemei's speech, she pointed out that science and technology innovation is the core engine that promotes the progress of the world, and women, as an important force, play a unique role in the stage of science and technology innovation. She stressed that APEC economies should work together to enhance women's science and technology innovation, achieve gender equality, and inject momentum into regional and global sustainable development.

Vanessa Guest delivered a speech. She mentioned that women still face many challenges in STEM fields, and APEC economies need to work together to remove barriers and increase the participation rate of women in science and technology innovation. She introduced the efforts by the United States in promoting women's science and technology innovation and looked forward to strengthening cooperation with other economies.

In Gao Ruiping's speech, she reviewed the brilliant achievements of women in science and technology, and she also emphasized the important role that female scientists and technologists play in science and technology progress and social development. She pointed out that China Women’s Association for Science and Technology will continue to promote gender equality, and will provide more opportunities and support for female talents in science and technology.

In Zhang Yulei’s speech, she introduced Beijing's measures and achievements in promoting women's science and technology innovation. She said that Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun will continue to increase the support in training female talents in science and technology, and will create a more friendly innovation environment for them.

Wu Jianmin pointed out in his speech: Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, as the secretariat office of Beijing Women’s Association for Science and Technology, provides coordination, support, service and security for the growth and development of female talents in science and technology, and it creates favorable environment and conditions for them to display their talents and play their roles; at the same time, we should actively enhance policy innovation, advocate establishing a more equitable and inclusive environment for scientific research, and ensure that female talents in science and technology participate equally in the decision-making, resource allocation and outcome sharing of scientific research.

Sharing project outcomes

In the session of sharing project outcomes, Li Junkai, director of the Center for International and Regional Cooperation of the BJAST, secretary-general of the Think Tank Alliance, and project leader, made a report titled Women's Participation in Science and Technology Innovation: Research from the Asia-Pacific Region. The report sorts out the relevant policies of 21 APEC economies in enhancing the participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; it summarizes the policy highlights and practical measures that can be used for reference; she also shares the international questionnaire survey data of female scientists and technologists in 8 Asia-Pacific economies by the project team in the report, and puts forward policy recommendations to enhance women's participation in science and technology innovation in the Asia-Pacific region from five aspects, namely policy support, platform construction, influence improvement, career development and humanistic care; these have provided an important reference for APEC member economies.

The initiative release ceremony

The guest representatives of the opening speech, project leaders and representatives of APEC economies participated in the release ceremony of "The Initiative of the Development of Asia-Pacific Women's Participation in Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship". The initiative put forward "four principles", namely: insisting on advocating science; insisting on equality and inclusiveness; insisting on humanistic care; and insisting on openness and cooperation. It provides references for the development of women in the field of science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific region.

The moderator of the keynote speeches and guest speakers

The session of keynote speeches was presided over by Li Jing, executive vice president of the Beijing Women’s Association for Science and Technology. Experts and scholars from China, the Philippines, Peru, Malaysia and other economies delivered keynote speeches on policy mechanisms for enhancing women's participation in global science, technology and innovation, and they demonstrated the efforts and achievements of different economies in promoting gender equality.

The moderator of case sharing and guest speakers

The session of case sharing was chaired by Shi Lei, deputy director of the National Academy of Innovation Strategy. Representatives from China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and other economies shared practical experience and successful cases of women in science and technology innovation.

The moderator and guest speakers for Thematic Discussion I

On the afternoon of the 12th, the seminar entered into the session of Thematic Discussion I. The seminar was divided into two sessions, namely "public sector" session and "private sector” session. They were respectively chaired by Miao Xiaojuan, senior reporter of Xinhua News Agency, and Wang Chunchan, deputy secretary-general of Zhongguancun Digital Economic Industry Alliance. Guest speakers from China, Indonesia, Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and other economies had in-depth discussions on the successful practice of women's science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

The moderator and guest speakers of Thematic Discussion II

Thematic Discussion II, which focused on "opportunities and challenges faced by outstanding young female scientists and technologists in practice ", was chaired by Zhu Jing, a research fellow at the Institute of Biotechnology and Health of Beijing Academy of Science and Technology. Five guest speakers from China, Peru, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by women in science and technology based on their personal experiences and policy environments.

Policy recommendations

At the end of the workshop, Li Junkai made a concluding speech. She stressed that the role of women in science and technology innovation is increasingly important, and the enhancement of women's participation in science and technology innovation is not only the key to achieving gender equality, but also a necessary path to accelerate scientific and technological progress and social development. She said that, in the future, she will continue to strengthen policy communication and cooperation, translate the outcomes of discussions into practical actions, and work together to build a more equitable, innovative and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.

Investigations and exchanges

On the morning of the 13th, the guests visited the Exhibition Center of Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone and had exchanges, so as to gain an in-depth understanding of Beijing's innovation ecosystem and development achievements in science and technology. In the afternoon, the guests visited Panjiayuan and carried out cultural exchanges. The investigation visit deepened their understanding of Chinese civilization and excellent traditional Chinese culture, and it had a positive function in promoting women's exchanges and cooperation in the cultural field.

The seminar integrates academic seminars, work exchanges, and investigation visits as a whole. It has injected new impetus into the development of women's science and technology innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.