Sweden’s strategy of allocating research funds based on strategic excellence has meant a re-allocation of funding from men to women of approximately SEK 1 billion over the past decade.<\/p>\n
This is according to a recent report, commissioned by Swedish government, writes University World News.<\/p>\n
The authors say a \u00bbcatastrophic bias\u00ab has kept women out of research over the last ten years.<\/p>\n
Female researchers received just 12.7 per cent of SEK 2 billion earmarked for strategically excellent research, while men received 87.3 per cent.<\/p>\n
Usually, women receive around 30 per cent of mainstream funding.<\/p>\n
This is despite the fact that bibliometric studies show that women are cited as much as men within the same research fields.<\/p>\n
The funding bias has also contributed to the perpetuation of the idea that \u00bbonly men are capable of delivering top-class research results,\u00ab write the authors of the report. <\/p>\n
However, the real reason why women do not tend to get these funds is primarily because a lower proportion of women apply, they add.<\/p>\n
However, the lower application rate among women has not yet been analysed, the authors said.<\/p>\n
\u00bbWe do not know if the wording of the call for proposals might have an effect on women not applying – calls such as ‘directors wanted!’, ‘strong leadership skills’, ‘strong entrepreneurial achievements’ – or if men have stronger international networks,\u00ab they say. <\/p>\n
luci@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n