FEM-Up - Level Up female entrepreneurship and STEM skills to foster women empowerment

The project aimed to empower young women to pursue entrepreneurship and STEM-related career paths by providing them with the skills, confidence and support needed to develop innovative ideas. Its ...

The project aimed to empower young women to pursue entrepreneurship and STEM-related career paths by providing them with the skills, confidence and support needed to develop innovative ideas. Its objectives were to create a comprehensive training Academy combining digital learning, mentoring and practical experiences; to strengthen entrepreneurial and STEM competences among women aged 18–30; and to build a supportive ecosystem connecting learners with mentors, role models, start-ups and innovation actors. The project also sought to promote gender-inclusive innovation, raise awareness of the gender gap in STEM and entrepreneurship, and enhance cooperation between education providers, training organisations and business support structures across Europe. Ultimately, the project aimed to foster a new generation of female innovators and contribute to a more diverse and competitive European innovation landscape.

The project implemented a comprehensive set of activities to build the FEM-Up Academy and support young women in developing entrepreneurial and STEM-related skills. Partners established the Academy’s methodological framework, created two training modules with eight units, and developed the FEM-Up e-platform with digital learning content, quizzes and case studies. Through a joint selection process, trainers, mentors and 45 young women were recruited. The Academy offered a blended learning pathway with self-paced online modules, weekly expert webinars, interactive assignments and a structured mentoring scheme with national and international mentors. To strengthen real-world engagement, partners organised start-up visits, the “Jobs of the Future” event and national pre-selection rounds for the “FEM-Up Your Idea” contest. The project culminated in the international FEM-Up Academy Award. Alongside these activities, partners carried out communication, dissemination and community-building actions through social media, newsletters, local events and collaboration with education and innovation stakeholders. Continuous project management, monitoring and quality assurance ensured timely and high-quality implementation.

The project delivered concrete outputs that strengthened support for young women in entrepreneurship and STEM. Its core result was the creation of the FEM-Up Academy, built around two modules: Module 1: Mastering soft skills for success and Module 2: Building strong busines foundation, including eight units, interactive assignments and case studies. A dedicated FEM-Up e-platform hosts all digital content, quizzes, webinars and self-paced learning materials. A network of trained mentors and trainers was established across six countries, and 45 young women completed the Academy, reporting improved confidence and stronger entrepreneurial and STEM-related skills. Participants also joined 14 start-up visits, the Jobs of the Future event, national contest rounds and the international FEM-Up Academy Award. As a key public output, the project produced the “How to Become a FEM-Up Trainer” Roadmap, supporting wider use of the Academy model. Overall, the project strengthened ecosystems supporting young female innovators and increased awareness of gender gaps in STEM and entrepreneurship.