Women in Science and Innovation is a training program run by the Museum of Tomorrow, IDG | Institute for Development and Management, and the British Council for Brazilian female researchers in STEM fields, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation, in order to stimulate female leadership and empowerment in science. In 2019, two editions of the program took place, encompassing 70 participants from undergraduate and graduate programs selected from 250 candidates across Brazil. The program, which was free of charge, offered subsidies for researchers from other states to participate in the training in Rio de Janeiro, and also took four researchers on a study mission to the United Kingdom.

Objectives:

● To stimulate innovation and female entrepreneurship in undergraduate and graduate education and research centers;

● To strengthen the gender issue in the debate on science and innovation in Brazil;

● To encourage women to reach leadership positions in science;

● To strengthen networks of empowerment and inspiration among women.

Structure:

The program offers a week-long training course covering concepts and practices focused on innovation and entrepreneurship based on science and technology. Combining a series of lectures at the Museum of Tomorrow and workshops at the Start-Up Factory, topics covered include business plans, branding and marketing, funding sources, regulatory frameworks and patents, specialized pitch training, and an understanding of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Brazil.

The program, which is free of charge, supported participants from outside Rio de Janeiro who had difficulty covering their accommodation and transportation costs with travel and accommodation expenses. In addition, two participants from each edition were selected for a 10-day study mission in the United Kingdom, where they visited institutions and companies related to the innovations the researchers are developing, thus gaining international experience and expanding their network.