Gender equality is now a formal, end to end requirement in the management of publicly funded research projects in the United Kingdom, supported by research council policies that aim to shape proposal development, project monitoring and evaluation. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) sets out a comprehensive approach that requires applicants and funded organisations to use UKRI Gender Equality Statements (GES) guidance, Gender Equality Plan (GEP), and Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies to evidence equitable participation, gender sensitive approaches, and provide mitigation of risks across the project lifecycle.
In the health sector, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has introduced gender equality as part of the requirements in research proposals and projects from November 2025, building on inclusive design as a condition of funding. Applicants must justify inclusion/exclusion by sex and gender, plan inclusive recruitment, which are some of the measures intended to strengthen and benefit underrepresented groups. UK practices include establishing gender-balanced project boards with designated equality leads, mandating annual training, scheduling periodic reviews of gender representation and participation, and co-designing protocols with relevant community organisations. Together, these policies provide clear guidelines for integrating gender equality into project management, improve research quality and have a positive societal impact. Case studies and examples of project management and how gender equality is embedded in each of the project stages, more specifically in biomedical research and engineering, will be covered during the talk.