The winners of the “Women in STEM” scholarships

The scholarship award ceremony for the ten winners of the "Women in STEM" project took place on Tuesday 29 March 2022. Brainchild of Fondazione Giuseppina Mai of Confindustria and the Bracco Foundation, the scholarships receive support from the Government of Quebec, Assolombarda and the “STEAMiamoci” project.

With the aim of helping women to achieve their career aspirations in the areas of innovation and technology, the Women in STEM project issued a nationwide call for applications in November 2021. With a view to encouraging women to enter STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the Women in STEM project offered 10 scholarships with a value of €3,000 euros each, and attracted 162 outstanding applicants from across the country.

The Bracco Foundation supported the initiative as part of its pledge to closing the gender gap by promoting freedom of access to knowledge, helping some young women to arrive at informed career choices, helping others to build on their professional skills, and advocating for the greater presence of women experts in positions of leadership.

“Technological innovation is revolutionizing the job market and has resulted in increased demand for workers with STEM qualifications, yet the increased demand is not being met by an increase in the supply of female resources with a scientific and IT background. The stereotypes and prejudices that still make it difficult for women to take up a career in the sciences must be overcome by encouraging girls to choose STEM subjects for their academic degrees” said Diana Bracco, Chair of Fondazione Mai and B20 Ambassador Women Empowerment.

In addition to the ten scholarships awarded at the ceremony, Assolombarda added a further “STEAMiamoci” scholarship, named after Maria Gaetana Agnesi, Italian mathematician, philosopher, theologian, academic and philanthropist.