With six editions held in the Catalan capital, the event has also been organized twice in Madrid, twice in Lisbon, once in Milan, once in Bogotá, and, most recently, this past September in Montreal.

• The first day is dedicated to business initiatives promoting the presence of girls and women in STEM, while the second day focuses on education, with activities designed for teachers, schools, and students.
• International experts from Canada, Colombia, Italy, Portugal, and Brazil participated in a special panel discussing the status of women in STEM in their respective countries.
• The event also showcased the STEM TOUR, an initiative where a Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric vehicle travels over 3,000 kilometers, visiting more than 20 rural schools in Spain to conduct workshops promoting STEM among boys and girls.

The STEM Women Congress (SWC), the international event promoting the inclusion of women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), successfully concluded its sixth edition in Barcelona. This year, the event introduced a significant new feature: a two-day format. It brought together hundreds of professionals, leading companies, and international experts with the shared goal of advancing gender equality in STEM fields and inspiring future generations to pursue scientific careers.

One of the key innovations this year was dedicating a second full day to education. On November 13, an exclusive day for children was organized, featuring interactive activities, workshops, and scientific demonstrations aimed at capturing the attention of young audiences. This decision proved to be a great success, as it established a direct connection with the initiative’s central mission: inspiring future generations and encouraging girls, in particular, to pursue STEM careers to help close the gender gap in male-dominated STEM professions.

The second day, focused on education, allowed students from 8th grade in various Barcelona schools to experience the fascinating world of STEM firsthand. The day was filled with activities for both students and teachers, offering innovative pedagogical tools and resources. Active participation by students was a highlight, as the event not only provided them with insights into science and technology but also showcased the transformative power of STEM in their own lives.

Additionally, this edition marked the official launch of the STEM Tour, an initiative traveling over 3,000 kilometers in a Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric vehicle. The tour visits rural schools across Spain to bring STEM closer to children nationwide. This mobile experience has been praised as one of the most exciting and transformative, offering students in rural areas the opportunity to engage with science and technology in an accessible and enjoyable way.

POSITIVE IMPACT AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT
The congress not only focused on sharing best practices from the corporate world to increase the number of women in STEM but also featured experts from around the globe who shared their experiences in education, proposing innovative solutions to promote diversity and equality in science.

Held at ESADE Barcelona, the event also welcomed renowned figures from the scientific and business sectors, such as Dr. Maria P. Ikonomopoulou, who shared her pioneering cancer research, and Katherine D’Amico, who discussed the neurobiology of trust.

A CONGRESS WITH A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
The 2024 edition of the STEM Women Congress was a resounding success, both in its expanded format and the quality of its presentations and activities. Thanks to the collaboration of leading companies like Abertis, Nestlé, Danone, Volkswagen, SEAT, and CaixaBank Tech, as well as the support of organizations championing the inclusion of women in STEM, the event managed to bring science, technology, and innovation closer to thousands of people.

To further expand its impact, the SWC also unveiled a groundbreaking technological platform: a business intelligence tool for tracking STEM initiatives. This platform will help governments, companies, and educational institutions make strategic decisions based on concrete data about the inclusion of women in STEM.

Eva Díaz, CEO of the STEM Women Congress, expressed her satisfaction with the success of the sixth edition in Barcelona:
“We are incredibly proud of the growth the STEM Women Congress has achieved this year. In addition to recently launching in Montreal, the two-day expansion of the Global SWC has allowed us to take a significant step forward in our commitment to inspiring and empowering women and girls in STEM. Dedicating the second day to children has brought us closer to the younger audience we aim to influence to create real societal change.”

In summary, the 2024 STEM Women Congress demonstrated that initiatives focused on early childhood education and inclusion can positively transform society, inspiring more young people to take an active role in the future of science and technology.