All girls should be encouraged to pursue science

In 2018, the Innovation Fund launched a new initiative to promote a better gender balance in entrepreneurship and top research. As part of the initiative, the foundation has set up a group of eight female entrepreneurs and researchers affiliated with the foundation. The group has been named InnoWomen, and the eight women will both provide input to the foundation's own diversity policy and act as role models for potential applicants. Sara Shafiee is one of the eight InnoWomen: “I believe that diversity provides better research and innovation, and introducing role models is really important as part of achieving greater gender diversity. That is why I am extremely delighted to be part of this initiative”, she says.