Best Practices and Lessons from Academia-Industry Collaboration Initiatives

Diversity and inclusion act as a backdrop for programs to help increase women in tech across industry. Throughout the chapter we outline some best practices to improve gender balance across university-industry partnerships, technological transfers, and governmental policies. We review the results gained from an open survey in which initiatives, programs, policies, and projects to advance gender balance in IT across sectors were submitted from countries across Europe. Recommendations, relationship with industry, interaction with governments, and leadership training for women are highlighted in the context of successful programs that highlight values in the context of mentorship, networking, leadership, and work-life balance. We also seek to extend these interventions to other genders, particularly third and non-gendered identities in the future.