Towards gender parity in STEM: IVADO, IBM, LGS, and Makila AI united to improve women’s representation in aerospace and defense

IVADO partnered with IBM, LGS and Makila AI and conducted in-depth research into the heart of the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, highlighting efforts to narrow the gap between men and women in patent filing. Part of IVADO’s ambitious Action Inclusion Challenge to drive social innovation powered by artificial intelligence (AI), this initiative will help to redefine inclusivity standards in the industry.

The United Nations has long emphasized the importance of gender parity in promoting sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reinforces this imperative by highlighting the urgency to address persistent gender inequalities and empower women in all aspects of society. Moreover, the economic imperative for diversity and inclusion is increasingly recognized, with studies showing that companies with diverse teams tend to outperform their competitors.

The ongoing issue of the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is of growing concern. This is particularly troubling in the traditionally male-dominated aerospace and defense industry where this reality underscores its impact on innovation, a crucial pillar of global competitiveness in these sectors.

In alignment with its values of ethics, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), IVADO teamed up with IBM, LGS (an IBM company and IVADO member), and Makila AI to launch a collaborative research project aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women in A&D. Building on a preliminary case study conducted in 2022 on IBM’s inventions and patent filings, the current 2023 study focused on promoting gender equality by examining women’s representation in patent filing within the A&D sector.

To conduct this study, the team examined seven A&D industry giants: Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Mitsubishi, Bombardier, De Havilland, and General Electric, to assess the role of women in innovation and identify complex challenges. This evaluation was followed by comprehensive analysis of patents published by these companies between March 1890 and December 2022, as well as descriptive and predictive analysis conducted using machine learning tools. Additionally, publicly available data extracted from these companies’ annual reports regarding environmental, social, and governance issues were used as supplementary information sources.

The study results identified various obstacles, including lack of access to resources, unconscious biases, and absence of female role models in the A&D sector. The study also showed that gender inequalities in patents are a structural and systemic issue, not merely a process-related problem. These findings led to several recommendations aimed at encouraging women’s participation in STEM fields.

The project also highlighted the importance of implementing training programs, workshops, and mentorship to support female leadership. By fostering networks among female leaders, these initiatives can help to enhance their visibility, influence, encourage knowledge exchange, and promote collaboration to support women’s innovations in the industry.

While progress has been made by A&D leaders to bridge the gender parity gap, the need for a more inclusive future in patent filing and innovation persists. This study explored concrete solutions for gender equality, emphasizing the imperative to continue efforts in this area to cultivate an environment conducive to innovation and competitiveness, benefiting everyone.

To read the full case study of the A&D industry (2023), click here.

To read the full case study on IBM’s inventions and patenting (2022), click here.

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Action Inclusion Challenge

In 2021, with the support of MEIE, IVADO launched its ambitious Action Inclusion Challenge Program, a platform bringing together various stakeholders to develop social innovation solutions to concrete industry challenges. This program, focused on dynamic collaboration between academia and industry, brought together students, AI professionals, researchers, and IVADO industrial members who identified inclusion barriers in their organizations. Together, they explored innovative solutions integrating AI to address these high-impact social challenges.