The Observatory of Women, Science and Innovation (OMCI) is an interministerial collegiate body that has the responsibility of analyzing and monitoring and measuring impacts on the situation of women in the field of research, development and innovation; as well as promoting, proposing, advising and promoting the realization of public policies and actions in these fields to eliminate the visible and invisible obstacles to real and effective gender equality; and promoting the improvement of the situation of women in the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The ultimate aim of the Observatory is to move towards gender equality in the fields of science, technology and innovation, in its two aspects, the balanced presence of women and men in all fields and levels and the transversal integration of the gender perspective in R+D+I.
The Observatory is chaired by the Minister of Science and Innovation, has 22 vocalías and its members include representatives of ten ministries: Defense; Education and Professional Training; Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory; Labor and Social Economy; Inclusion, Social Security and Migration; Territorial Policy and Public Service; Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation; Health; Equality, and Universities; and the most relevant agents in the fields of science, technology and innovation as well as equality.
Monitoring and evaluation functions:
- Collection and analysis of available information on equality between women and men in the scientific, technological and research fields, as well as in the university field in relation to research.
- Collect, analyse, evaluate and disseminate systematic information on the situation of women in the previous areas.
- Regular and systematic monitoring of the level of implementation and gender impact of the measures and actions of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and its agencies and entities, as well as all agents of the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation, in relevant areas related to gender equality in R+D+I, including: balanced presence; prevention and approach of sexual harassment and harassment due to sex in the workplace; reduction of the impact of unconscious evaluation biases; integration of gender equality criteria in public funds calls; integration of the gender dimension in science, technology and innovation projects and programs.
- Know the Equality Plans of the Public Research Agencies and the results of their annual monitoring.
- Ensure compliance with the provisions of the regulations, strategies and plans that are applicable.
- To promote the carrying out of studies and technical reports to diagnose the situation of women scientists, technologists and researchers in Spain.
- Know the actions carried out by the equality units of the universities, insofar as these actions refer to the field of research and/or technology.
Reporting and Proposal Functions:
- Inform all those matters that are subject to their criteria in terms of equality.
- Formulate recommendations and proposals aimed at improving indicators and information systems related to women in these areas.
- To formulate recommendations and proposals aimed at improving the situation and visibility of women researchers, technologists and innovators and eradicating the gender inequalities detected in the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation.
- Propose the adoption of measures and the performance of actions by the agents of the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation, to move towards the balanced presence of women and men in all areas and levels, especially in decision-making.
- Promote recommendations and measures to integrate a gender perspective into sectoral research, development and innovation policies - including strategies and plans - and in projects and programmes.
- Propose actions of scientific dissemination to make visible the trajectory of current and past scientists as referents and to promote scientific vocations in girls and adolescents, especially in STEM areas.
- Promote actions to promote a science, technology and innovation free of gender biases.
The Observatory also carries out any other functions that contribute to the fulfillment of its objectives, as well as those entrusted to it by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities in this matter.
The Women, Science and Innovation Observatory, for gender equality in the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation, was established on January 10, 2019 and is regulated by Royal Decree 938/2020 of October 27. Its work programme for the period 2021-2022 and the structure of committees and working groups to facilitate its implementation were approved in plenary meeting on November 10, 2020.
