Supporting Training and Networking of Women in Manufacturing

About the project

STRADA Women in Manufacturing is an empowering leadership initiative meticulously crafted and successfully executed across seven European countries (Spain, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, and Ireland). The program’s primary focus is supporting female MSc and Ph.D. students in engineering and women in the manufacturing industry.

STRADA stands as a leadership program with a sharp focus on manufacturing. Its comprehensive curriculum encompasses essential training in high-demand skills, including entrepreneurship, sustainability, and digitalization. Furthermore, participants gain valuable European networking opportunities, connecting with like-minded peers who share their passion for innovation and progress.

At its core, this dynamic leadership program blends mentorship with comprehensive training modules covering subjects such as innovation, entrepreneurship, digitization, and effective management practices. Participants also gain access to invaluable networking opportunities and receive personalized career development coaching. It includes networking opportunities and career development coaching.

Purpose of the project

The project’s primary goal is to provide women in manufacturing environments with the necessary skills to start and grow their own businesses or develop their professional careers, whether in academia or industry, rising to management and leadership positions.

Societal impact

The project had a significant impact in forming a supporting mechanism for women in manufacturing, as they are often marginalized and not pushed to pursue a career in such an industry. As such, the societal impact was shown in both the direct project beneficiaries, as they were provided an opportunity specially made and catered to support their professional development in this industry, and the wider population was impacted by raising awareness that women are accepted and viewed as equals in such an industry, and on the other hand, that support is and exists for women that want to pursue a career in manufacturing. The final long-term impact is the mindset shift from the traditional cultural and traditional norms, which will definitely keep on giving and impacting new generations of women that want to enter this industry.

Main results & insights

At least 120 mentees involved, more than 400 people in the Network, more than 25h of webinars, more than 100 different companies/universities involved in the programme