Women's Technology-Driven Careers in Rural Regions

The focus of this pillar is women's technology-driven careers in research and innovation in rural and sparsely populated regions. While many studies have explored the situation of women in technology-driven disciplines within academia in and around the large universities and academic institutions, less interest has been directed towards women in research and innovation in rural regions.

We have two main research goals: first, to explore women’s career trajectories and work experiences in research and innovation in rural regions; and second, to investigate how gender is negotiated and (re)shaped in research, knowledge and innovation institutions in the rural regions. The overall goal of this pillar is to contribute to improving women's participation and visibility in technology-driven research and innovation also in rural regions.

The pillar is led by Hilde G. Corneliussen at Western Norway Research Institute, and the main region of this pillar is the county of Sogn & Fjordane in Norway. This is a region with 109.000 inhabitants across 26 municipalities, the largest with 13.000 inhabitants and the smallest with less than 800. Comparable studies will be done in rural regions in other Nordic countries.

Contact and participants
Researchers involved in Women's Careers in Innovation Regions in Rural Areas are Hilde G. Corneliussen, Carol Azungi Dralega, Minna Salminen Karlsson, Nina Almgren, Monika Jönsson.