Ministry of Industry encourages more women to opt for technological careers in Uruguay
The Minister of Industry, Omar Paganini, participated, yesterday Thursday, in the opening of the conference “For a more inclusive digital world: the importance of financing innovation and technology for gender equality”. On the occasion, he called to promote opportunities for women in decision-making positions, and recalled the 8M call from the state portfolio to finance projects for businesswomen and cooperative members.
The activity, organized by the Montevideo Stock Exchange, was attended by its president, Ángel Urraburu; the Head of Operations of the Inter-American Development Bank in Uruguay, Fernando Cuenin; the director of UN Women Uruguay Programs, Magdalena Furtado, and the executive director of the United Nations Global Compact in Uruguay, Paola Rapetti.
Paganini recognized that in society there is a duty regarding the incorporation of women into labor and business fields, especially in the area of technology and innovation.
In this sense, he recalled that, although 60% of the people enrolled in the University of the Republic are women, in technological careers the enrollment is reduced to 20% or less, as a consequence of the stereotypes linked to the STEM professions ( acronym that synthesizes the areas science, technology, engineering and mathematics). He also considered that it is necessary to work on the cultural mandates that force students and professionals to seek a balance between work and family activities.
Likewise, he stressed that generating opportunities for women is a matter of concern in the ministry and that there are lines of work on the subject, such as the 8M call for businesswomen, cooperative members and trans women, with projects that promote innovation or competitiveness in their companies.
The Secretary of State also assured that in all the economic support funds of Industry the participation of the female gender is valued, particularly in the ventures that are developed in the interior. “Our policy is to support women’s economic autonomy,” he said.
Finally, he said that role models must be made visible and access to decision-making positions facilitated. In addition, he mentioned new challenges, such as renewable energy, the circular economy and data science, new and interdisciplinary topics that represent important avenues for development and inclusion.
