General Assemby Madrid
The WIDCON consortium met on 24 September 2025 in Madrid for its General Assembly, hosted by BluSpecs.
Partners from across Europe joined for a full day of collaboration, reflecting on milestones already achieved, examining the first data results of the Women in Digital Index, strengthening the Forum community, and aligning on upcoming events such as the Women in Digital Summit. The gathering combined technical updates with strategic planning, ensuring that each work package contributed to a shared vision for the next stage of the project.
Project progress and priorities – BluSpecs
BluSpecs opened the meeting with a progress update and a look towards milestone M12. Deliverables including the WiD Index foundational data, the Forum Strategy, and the first communication and dissemination reports are already in place or nearing completion. Attention now shifts to the launch of new Thematic Working Groups, the preparation of the Women in Digital Summit, and the delivery of the Annual WiD Index and scoreboard. The emphasis was on ensuring that technical results, community activities, and policy impact remain closely aligned as the project enters its next phase.
The Forum’s evolution – EVTA, BDVA, AIOTI
The Forum session, led by EVTA with contributions from BDVA and AIOTI, reviewed its rapid growth to nearly 200 members, with representation across individuals, organisations, and project partners. The discussion asked how engagement can be deepened and made more inclusive. Proposals included formal recognition for active contributors, opportunities for member-led webinars, and opening ambassador roles to a wider pool. AIOTI also presented funding options for sustaining the Forum beyond the project’s lifetime, from institutional sponsorships and EU programmes to possible membership models. Across all proposals, the aim was clear: to secure a lasting structure that keeps the Forum active and relevant beyond 2026.
Communication and events – EIT Digital
EIT Digital guided the consortium through communication priorities and upcoming events. Best practices’ promotion, WID Forum Engagement, new webinars with similar initiatives were the main topics tackled. The focus of the presentation then shifted to the WIDCON Summit, discussing together the lastest agenda updates, speakers’ confirmations and logistics. A central editorial calendar was introduced as the single reference point for communication, ensuring better coordination and visibility across all partner channels.
Index design and first results – IDC
IDC presented the first primary data collection results of the Women in Digital Index. The Index tracks women’s progression across the digital pipeline, covering STEM education, ICT studies, digital career stages, and leadership positions, with an “enabling environment” as a cross-cutting factor. Survey findings highlighted both progress and persistent gaps: encouragement at early STEM stages contrasts with gender stereotypes in ICT education, while career advancement remains hindered by bias, unequal pay, and limited leadership opportunities. The next steps will focus on stakeholder validation and preparing the Index for public release in an interactive, user-friendly format.
Strategic alignment and action planning – BluSpecs
The afternoon returned to BluSpecs, who steered discussions on objectives and key results (OKRs). Partners reviewed how project ambitions can be translated into measurable priorities, from technical deliverables to community engagement. This session also set the ground for action plans that ensure coherence across work packages, events, and communications, helping the consortium maintain a unified approach.
The final session focused on financial reporting and the use of travel budgets within WP3. Clear criteria were set for how Forum-related participation should be supported, ensuring that resources are used transparently while enabling broad representation across activities and events.
The Madrid General Assembly marked an important checkpoint for the WIDCON project. With progress on key deliverables, a growing Forum community, first insights from the Women in Digital Index, and clear plans for upcoming events the consortium left with a shared sense of direction. The focus now turns to delivering the first version of the Index and preparing for the Women in Digital Summit, where many of these efforts will come together on a European stage.
