India Ranks Third In Growth Rate For Women’s Share Of Active Researchers Globally

A report released by Elsevier has revealed that India presented the third highest compound annual growth rate for women’s share of active researchers at 2 per cent over the last decade, behind only Egypt and the Netherlands. The study analysed gender equality in research and examined inclusion and diversity in career cohorts across intersecting disciplines and geographies, tracking several indicators over 20 years. 

It revealed that though challenges persist, progress was observed with women now representing 41 per cent of researchers globally in 2022, compared to 28 per cent in 2001, with strong representation in Health Sciences. However, India only has a 33 per cent representation of active women researchers.

It revealed that Women researchers in India outperform men within broad scientific areas; in physical sciences with 0.37 versus 0.35, social sciences with 0.36 versus 0.33, STEM with 0.40 versus 0.37 respectively, and are on par in health sciences with 0.52 for both. Women are also cited as often as men when focusing on patents citing scientific literature, both with 0.40. Women even score higher in life sciences with 0.36 versus men with 0.34, and in STEM with 0.38 versus men with 0.37.

The average share of women among grant awardees increased globally from 29 per cent in 2009 to 37 per cent in 2022 and the largest increase was observed from the Netherlands with 19 per cent while India is currently with 33 per cent. In 2022, early-career women represented 41 per cent of all Indian active researchers in health science. In Life Sciences, early-career women reached the parity zone in 2021, and they represented 43 per cent of active researchers as of 2022.

Women’s representation in mathematics, engineering and computer science continues to increase but was not projected to reach parity with men’s until 2052 in the report. Further, while grant funding for women rose from 29 per cent in 2009 to 37 per cent in 2022, translation of research into innovation through patent applications was much lower for women researchers, despite women’s strong performance in disciplines that relate to solving some of the biggest challenges the world faces, as expressed in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The report revealed that women comprise the majority of active researchers working on some UN SDG research areas, including education SDG 4, gender equality SDG 5, reduce inequalities SDG 10 and peace and justice SDG 16. Women’s progress is especially marked when assessed using indicators around societal impact.

Sandeep Sancheti, vice president of research relations and academic affairs at Elsevier India commented, “India's rapid growth in women researchers highlights ongoing gender equity efforts. India's strides in gender equality in research are truly encouraging. We've made significant headway in creating a more inclusive academic environment. This progress, while notable, highlights both our achievements and the challenges that remain."

Hannah Valantine, Professor of Medicine, Stanford University and member of Elsevier’s inclusion and diversity advisory board said, “I was just so taken aback by the Gender Report's scope, depth, breadth, thoughtfulness, and potential for real impact. It can lead to genuine culture change within institutions and funding agencies to in turn benefit individual researchers of all genders throughout their careers.”