Focus on gender equality and technology meet in new KTH initiative
InspireLab is a new centre at KTH. Through research funding and knowledge dissemination, the centre aims to serve as a catalyst for technology and innovation that strengthens gender equality in society.
The centre director, Associate Professor Pia Höök, explains the reasoning behind the initiative:
”Inequality comes at a cost. By improving gender equality, we create value on several levels: improving conditions and health for individuals, increasing productivity and innovation capacity for organisations, and enhancing security and democracy for society as a whole. Gender equality is key to a more sustainable society.”
The new centre will support projects that develop and use technology to improve conditions for women, address concrete equality challenges, and contribute to a sustainable society. There will be a particular focus on innovative and groundbreaking initiatives.
”During the first year, we will focus on establishing the centre, including mapping research at KTH and among our partners, and setting goals for our continued work. We also expect to identify the first projects meeting the criteria for research funding. Next year we hope to expand the student engagement,” says Pia Höök.
In addition to offering research funding, InspireLab will support support knowledge dissemination in society at large. The centre will also organise doctoral schools and generate knowledge to be integrated into education and future research at KTH.
”These themes align well with KTH’s work on equality, diversity, and inclusion, where the aim is to spread knowledge and embed these values into education,” says Pia Höök.
The centre will hold its first open house and networking event on 3 February, 4–6 PM, at Plattan in the Sing-Sing building.
”We hope everyone interested takes the opportunity to drop by,” says Pia Höök.
Text: Alexandra von Kern