HER TECH was presented at the All Digital Summit 2026, bringing the project’s research on gender equality in ICT into the wider European discussion on digital wellbeing, inclusion and competitiveness.
This year’s Summit, held under the theme “Digital Wellbeing for a Competitive Europe”, brought together policymakers, educators, researchers, civil society, industry representatives and digital experts to exchange perspectives on Europe’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
As AI and emerging technologies continue to transform how we learn, work and participate in society, the discussions went beyond access and connectivity. Ethics, trust, inclusion, education and digital skills emerged as essential elements of a digital transformation that is both human-centred and competitive.
Within this context, All Digital presented HER TECH – Her Tech, Her Terms during the Summit’s Lightning Talks, focusing on one central question: How do we help more girls say “yes” to a career in tech?
From the gender gap to engagement
The presentation highlighted the persistent gap between women’s engagement with technology and their participation in its creation. From the gaming industry example, where women represent around 45% of gamers worldwide, but only around 25% of game developers; to European level, where only one in five ICT specialists is a woman, while just 2% of female graduates choose ICT studies, compared with 8% of male graduates.
These figures point to a challenge that begins well before women enter the labour market. Research examined within HER TECH highlights several interconnected barriers, including gender stereotypes from childhood, a lack of visible role models, unconscious bias and classroom cultures that can weaken girls’ sense of belonging in technology-related fields.
The Lightning Talk therefore emphasised the importance of early and sustained engagement. If Europe wants to increase women’s participation in ICT, interventions need to address the educational environments and experiences that shape girls’ perceptions of technology from an early stage.
Bringing HER TECH research into the European conversation
The presentation also introduced HER TECH’s work to translate research into practical approaches for educators and policymakers, including gender-sensitive teaching strategies, practical educational resources, policy recommendations and greater awareness of unconscious bias.
The project’s Gender-Sensitive Engagement Framework, structured around four dimensions – Access, Belonging, Recognition and Progression – provides a research-informed basis for understanding what can help attract girls to ICT and sustain their engagement over time.
Presenting HER TECH at the All Digital Summit provided an important opportunity to connect this work with the broader European debate on digital wellbeing and competitiveness. A competitive digital Europe requires not only technological innovation and advanced digital skills, but also educational environments that enable a diverse range of people to participate in shaping its digital future.
The message of the HER TECH Lightning Talk was clear: if we want more women creating the technologies of tomorrow, we need to engage girls today.
