Published by the European Patent Office in 2026, Advancing women in STEM examines women’s participation across research, invention, patenting and entrepreneurship in Europe. The report shows that gender gaps increase along the innovation path: although women are well represented at doctoral level, they remain underrepresented among inventors and founders of patenting start-ups. The findings point to persistent structural and institutional barriers and underline the need to support women’s progression from research to commercialisation and innovation.