Evaluation of the Berlin programme to promote equal opportunities for women in research and teaching
Publication date: 18 February 2026 | Report language: DE
The proportion of women in professorial positions in Germany is still at only 30% (end of 2024). Are funding programmes capable of changing this?
At Technopolis, we investigated this question as part of the evaluation of the Berlin Programme for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities for Women in Research and Teaching (BCP).
An insight into our interesting findings:
- Due to uncertain career prospects, many women leave academia during the postdoctoral phase. The BCP promotes long-term positions through early succession appointments and provides incentives for tenure-track positions. The funding of W1, fixed-term W2 and visiting professorships also contributed to expanding the “pipeline” of qualified women, with many of those who received funding remaining in the higher education system in the long term, for example through subsequent professorship appointments.
- Despite the low proportion of women in professorial positions, there are prejudices against the financial support of women in some departments. By appointing outstanding women via the BCP and allowing them to prove themselves, preconceptions were dispelled in some areas.
- In structural terms, the funded ‘innovative projects’ were particularly effective. For example, initiatives to raise awareness of discrimination issues and advice centres for gender and diversity consulting were established.
