The Nuclear Industry Cluster in Cantabria promotes the discussion about equal opportunities during the cluster’s annual meeting
Santander – 13.05.2022
The Cantabria Regional Development Agency, SODERCAN, and the General Directorate for Women Issues and Gender Equality have presented to the companies of the Nuclear Industry Cluster (CINC) the actions carried out in the framework of the European project Femina (Interreg Europe). The project’s objective is the design of public policies that improve the participation of women in sectors and companies with a high technological content.
CINC has invited SODERCAN and the General Directorate to participate in a debate on equality during the cluster’s annual meeting. Mr José Antonio García Delgado, SODERCAN’s general director, thanked the Cluster for its invitation and its contribution to enhance women’s role in business.
As explained by Ms Raquel Manzanares, head of SODERCAN’s New Markets and Internationalisation Division SODERCAN’s activities for the FEMINA project are focused on promoting gender mainstreaming in regional companies and promoting female entrepreneurship in STEM sectors.
Firstly, SODERCAN has included as an award criterion in its different calls the integration of gender equality in the applicant’s project and highlights those promoting stable and quality employment for women, in professional sectors in which they are underrepresented.
On the other hand, SODERCAN will launch this year a program to promote female entrepreneurship in economic sectors where a significant number of jobs are expected to be created in the medium term because of economic, social and technological transformations.
Secondly, the line of action of the General Directorate of Women Issues focuses on a gender-neutral kindergarten located at the University of Cantabria, which will make it possible to break gender roles and stereotypes at an early age and to create awareness and interest in STEM content.
The general director of Women Issues, Ms Consuelo Gutierrez, has explained that it is a pilot project that would be replicated to other kindergartens, which are part of the network of the Government of Cantabria. Ms Consuelo Gutiérrez has encouraged companies to invest in equality policies.
Ms Lourdes Obregón, head of the Human Resources department at the company Nuclear Equipment (ENSA), was also a speaker during the event, and she discussed several issues concerning a company that promotes equality.
SODERCAN promoted the creation of the CINC Cluster, which has currently 16 members: Nuclear Equipment, Enwesa, Components Technology Center (CTC), University of Cantabria, Tonus Serv, Nuclenor, Computing Consulting of Cantabria (CIC), Atecsol Welding, Newtesol, Motusa Assemblies and Pipes, Ingecid Research and Development of projects, SGS Tecnos, Sidenor Aceros Especiales, Awge Technologies and Seys Medioambiente, in addition to SODERCAN.
