WiD Forum
Women in Digital Forum: building an inclusive European Future
The digital transformation presents unprecedented opportunities for European economic growth and innovation. With women representing just 20% of the EU’s digital workforce and Europe pursuing its ambitious target of 20 million ICT specialists by 2030, the Women in Digital Forum emerged as the essential infrastructure to bridge this critical gap.
Officially launched on June 19 2025 at the European Commission’s DG Connect premises in Brussels, the Women in Digital Forum represents a paradigm shift from fragmented initiatives to coordinated and systemic change.
As a central outcome of the CONNECTING WOMEN IN DIGITAL project under the Digital Europe Programme, the Forum serves as the missing piece that connects Member States, educational actors and industry around common metrics and strategic goals.
Mission: Creating Collaborative Change
The Women in Digital Forum brings together a pan-European community of experts to advance girls and women’s participation in ICT. Through discussion groups and specialized Thematic Working Groups (TWGs), the Forum validates research findings and transforms insights into actionable solutions that drive measurable impact.
The Forum establishes a collaborative, expert-driven ecosystem where stakeholders from academia, Non-Governmental Organisations, civil society and policymaking bodies interact, exchange knowledge and work together to shape strategies based on proven insights.
This approach enhances women’s participation in ICT across all levels, from early education through senior leadership positions.
Vision: An Inclusive Digital Europe
The Women in Digital Forum foresees a Europe where digital innovation is inclusive, diversity is a strength and ICT careers offer limitless promise for all, especially women and future generations.
The Forum acts as a primary independent platform that enables stakeholders throughout Europe to contribute to shaping inclusive digital transformation policies and practices.
Get Involved
The launch of the Women in Digital Forum signals a shift from awareness to action. Stakeholders are invited to engage with the Forum’s working groups and contribute to building a more inclusive and diverse digital future across Europe
Strategic Framework: From Analysis to Action
The Women in Digital Forum adopts a strategic approach that goes beyond visibility, focusing instead on governance, implementation and the structural barriers that cause women to drop out at every stage of the digital pipeline. This framework unfolds across interconnected pillars:
- Collaborative Expert-Driven Platform
At its core, the Forum provides a structured space for collaboration. Through Thematic Working Groups (TWGs), it brings together practitioners, researchers and policymakers to cocreate solutions, share knowledge and shape strategies rooted in real world expertise. - Evidence-Based Tools and Metrics
To transform insights into action, the Forum develops concrete instruments such as the Women Edition Index, comprehensive policy recommendations and data driven analyses. These tools are designed to guide European digital agendas and institutional decision-making. - Systemic Change Through Partnership
Recognising that digital transformation requires collective effort, the Forum builds cross-sectoral alliances. By linking Member States, educational institutions and industry actors, it fosters shared objectives and breaks down barriers that inhibit progress. - Pipeline Protection and Talent Development
The Forum directly addresses the loss of female talent along the digital pipeline. It supports targeted solutions to improve retention and advancement, with a particular focus on empowering young women as future leaders and agents of change.
Governance Structure Built for Impact
The Women in Digital Forum operates through a 3 tier governance structure designed to ensure effectiveness, inclusivity and transparency:
- Governing Board: provides high level strategic direction with senior representatives from key stakeholder organizations
- Secretariat: serves as operational backbone, coordinating activities and maintaining alignment across governance levels
- Thematic Working Groups: drive expert discussions, evidence gathering and recommendation development
Comprehensive Activity Framework
The Women in Digital Forum executes a comprehensive program of initiatives aimed at addressing challenges and promoting advancement across the digital ecosystem. These efforts harness expert knowledge and facilitate collaboration to deliver effective and sustainable outcomes:
- Expert-Driven Thematic Working Groups: Specialized working groups tackle specific challenges across the digital pipeline, from education and career development to leadership and entrepreneurship.
- Annual Summit: The flagship event convenes decision-makers, innovators, educators, and civil society actors, showcasing Forum outputs and facilitating high-level policy dialogue.
- Strategic Workshops and Roundtables: Interactive sessions address systemic gaps, developing targeted solutions through expert collaboration.
- Policy Development: The Forum produces concrete tools including position papers, policy briefs and institutional frameworks that transform inclusive policies into institutional action.
The Women in Digital Forum builds a digital Europe where talent flourishes through diversity, where innovation benefits from intersectional perspectives, and where women lead as drivers of digital transformation. By working together, stakeholders create an interconnected European network enabling change
Code Of Conduct
To ensure a respectful, inclusive, and productive space for all participants, the Women in Digital Forum has adopted a shared Code of Conduct. This document outlines the values and behaviours expected from all Forum members, partners, and contributors, reinforcing our collective commitment to equity, dignity, and collaboration.
