Appropriately considering gender in research supports the quality of the research project. Consequently, gender criteria are taken into account when evaluating project proposals. Gender criteria affect all aspects of a research project: where individuals or groups are the subject of research and/or people will apply or use the research results, or will be impacted by the results, then this must be taken into account in the research design. These comprehensive gender aspects are evaluated according to three gender criteria included in the main criteria: Quality of the project, Benefit and exploitation, Suitability of project participants.
- Quality of the project: To what extent have gender-specific topics been taken into account in the planning process, e.g. in research questions and methods?
- Benefit and exploitation (not in all funding programmes): Appropriately considering gender aspects in the market perspective increases the exploitation prospects for the project results. This will be taken into account when evaluating the economic potential and exploitation prospects.
- Suitability of funding applicants/project participants: Does the composition of the project team reflect the aim to improve the gender balance in the sector?
The criteria and their role in the selection process are specified in the guidelines for the funding instruments available for the relevant call.
In some programmes, gender aspects play a special role; additional information can be found in the relevant call guidelines.