As technology becomes ever more integrated in our societies and everyday lives, it is of critical importance to foster equal opportunities for women and girls to thrive in and contribute to the emergent digital economy. Mediterranean Tech Women Network seeks to foster empowerment and development in the future innovative industries. 

The Mediterranean Tech Women Network connects women across the Mediterranean for networking, learning and exchanging about talent, opportunities, support, and how to break new grounds to support thriving and sustainable innovation. While many women- and tech-centred formats (also with regional focus) already exist, there is to date no Mediterranean tech network for women. We aim to fill that gap.

According to the April 2021 UNESCO Science Report “The Race against Time for Smarter Development,” women now represent 33% of all scientific researchers. However, in the fields most important to the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (engineering, computing, physics, mathematics)—and in which there continue to be shortages of skilled laborers—women are still in the minority. Female-friendly start-ups still struggle to access adequate funding, with only 2% of all venture capital secured funneled to those founded by women. Addressing hostile work environments, parity in senior leadership, support for female STEM academics, and equitable educational opportunities must be paramount in tackling these ongoing gaps. 

For these and other reasons, MTWN provides spaces that expose women in tech to new skills, job prospects, and role models. MTWN focuses on creating sustainable economic opportunities for women by investing not only in training, but advocacy and policymaking centered on long-term economic collaboration in tech industries across Mediterranean countries. 

The aim of the MTWNFestival is to connect female leaders across borders to create and multiply opportunities in the technology field for women and to provide role models for girls interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. Encouraging dialogue amongst stakeholders and women representatives on common topics and concerns—but with different regional and cultural backgrounds—which shall contribute to bridging the considerable gap in knowledge and capacity between EU and non-EU countries and strengthen transnational economic collaboration.

This event is organised by the Womenpreneur Initiative, and co-hosted by CAWTAR (one of the founding members of our Foundation), Union for the Mediterranean, SANAD Entrepreneurship Academy, and EBSOMED. IEMed will be present through CLUSTER Program Manager Karina Melkonian.