Twinning Research and Innovation Institutions to Design and Implement Inclusive GEPs

NEXUS co-designs, implements, monitors and evaluates innovative and targeted actions aimed at bridging inclusivity gaps in nine research organisations and their respective R&I ecosystems with the aim to bolster institutional change through the development of inclusive Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in intersectional and intersectoral directions. Geographical inclusiveness is also promoted through a highly context-sensitive approach to action piloting in seven Member States and two Associated Countries covering Western, Central, Southern and Southeastern regions . The project sets up support structures to less experienced institutions to go beyond the minimum GEP requirements, as defined in the Horizon Europe eligibility criterion, through a participatory multi-stakeholder process of solution co-creation sustained by a twinning scheme and the delivery of a tailored capacity-building and training programme. NEXUS analyses how implementing partners with newly set up GEPs perform data collection, internal assessment and the planning of GEP measures with a view to identifying areas of improvement as well as potential challenges in enhancing an inclusive approach. This analysis informs the co-design and implementation of new innovative inclusive actions, underpinned by the principles of intersectionality and intersectoriality. NEXUS actions will enhance the research excellence of participating organisations as well as effecting institutional and cultural change that is context-sensitive, realistic and sustainable.