Gender and gatekeeping of excellence in research funding: European perspectives

Abstract

Women continue to be a minority among European researchers. Access to funding is one of the keys to success in academic careers, both for women and for men, providing essential support for research and publications. Indeed, the role of competitive funding is increasing in many European national settings and success in the competition for research funding is now often used as a measure of scientific excellence at both individual and institutional level. Those who decide on allocation of research funding play thus an important gatekeeping role shaping the research system.