We are happy to announce our collaboration with StandICT.eu and four other EU-funded projects ( HSBooster.eu, SEEBLOCKS, Stand4EU and Blockstand) for the organisation of the third edition of the  "Women in ICT Standardisation webinar", bringing together leading voices in the field of European standardisation. 

Together, we aim to deliver comprehensive and content-rich messages that address key priorities outlined in the Annual Union Work Programme for European Standardisation for 2024. Join us for an insightful discussion on the importance of gender diversity in ICT standardisation and its impact on European policy priorities. We're currently finalising the agenda but we can already tell you that the event will host an outstanding panel of Standardisation Experts!

BOOK YOUR SEAT 

The main objective of this webinar is to discuss and highlight the key gender gaps in ICT standardisation, with a particular focus on the 8 policy priorities identified by the European Commission (EC) in the Annual Union work programme (AUWP) for European standardisation. The webinar aims to:

1. Analyse the main obstacles and problems that persist in ICT standardisation;
2. Discuss and analyse the main results and achievements obtained at the European and International level in promoting equity and inclusion in this field;
3. Provide examples of practices and experiences empowering the role of women in standards development organisations and technical committees in the ICT domains;
4. Give a general overview of the main gender gaps in the 8 policy priorities identified under the AUWP.

Speakers

Esteemed representatives from various European and International Standards Developing Organisations will animate the debate over the webinar. The speakers have been selected based on their expertise and experience in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of ICT Standardisation, as well as their contributions to the development of standards in the respective ICT technological domains.

• Eszter Batta - Policy Officer, European Commission, DG GROW
  Annual Union Work Programme on Standardisation 2024 
• Silvana Muscella - Trust-IT Services CEO & StandICT.eu 2026 Coordinator - Event Moderator
  Women in ICT Standards, a focus on Gender Gap in ICT Standardisation in connection with European Commission Annual Union work programme
• Rim Belhassine-Cherif, PhD - Chair of Network of Women in ITU-T 
  ITU-T activities on promoting gender equality in standardisation 
• Barbara Reiter  - (University of Graz, EDU4Standards)
  Education for Standardisation in the EU
• Isabella De Micheli CEO & Founder at ErnieApp Ltd & IEC JTC SC35 WG4 (ISO, Stand4EU)(ISO, Stand4EU)
  EU Trusted Data Framework
• Paola Sabatelli Amato - (HSbooster.eu & StandICT.eu)
  Hydrogen: understanding the EU policy context
• Lluïsa Marsal Llacuna - Intelligenter, (ISO CEN-Cenelec, IEC, ITU, BlockStand.eu)
  The Challenge of Standardising Standards: Blockchain Standardisation as an Example
• Sandra Feliciano - Head of Research Engagement - AI & Cybersecurity at MENAPS, (ISO, IPQ, CEN-CENELEC, HSbooster.eu)
  From ICT Quality to Cybersecurity: The return of the prodigal son daughter
• Sudha Iyer - CITI & Seeblocks.eu
  Turning the Tide: CyberSecurity Standards
• Marzia Bolpagni - Associate Director at Mace (ISO, CEN-CENELEC, UNI)
  Improve the greening and climate resilience of buildings and construction materials
• Paloma Llaneza - eIDAS and eID Scheme Manager, CerteIDAS (CEN, ETSI, ISO, IEC)
  EU digital Identity Framework

Background

ICT standards hold immense importance at the EU level, representing one of the most relevant subjects on the EU political agenda to uphold  the competitiveness of the European Union in critical industries. Consequently, there is an urgent need for regulation and identification of the sectors in which ICT standards are mostly required. The European Commission has recently published the 2024 Annual Union work programme for European standardisation in which it has identified 8 main policy priorities that needs to be addressed.

This event aims to address these topics from a gender perspective. Gender equality in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is one of the core issues both at the international and European levels. This webinar emphasises the voices of women expert in ICT standards, particularly focusing on the 8 policy priorities identified in the 2024 Annual Union work programme for European standardisation:

• Technologies for European high performance computing and European quantum communication infrastructure;
• Critical Raw Materials (CRM) - Recycling of permanent magnets and exploration, extraction, refining and recycling of CRM;
• EU Trusted Data Framework;
• European digital identity framework;
• Eco-design of air-to-air conditioning and heat pumps;
• Cybersecurity requirements; 
• Hydrogen technologies and components;
• Electric vehicles charging infrastructure.

Target audience

The target audience for this webinar includes ICT Specialists and Professionals under the main Digital Single Market & Digital Europe domains, Standard Developing Organisations' representatives, Members of Research Institutes working in ICT Standard Development, Representative of National Standards Associations, general audience and civil society organisations involved in the promotion of women in STEM disciplines and education.

Duration

The webinar will last approximately 90 minutes, including interactive Q&A sessions.

Recordings and slides will be available soon!