What is the GEAR Tool? 

The GEAR tool, developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), is a structured online resource designed to support universities, research centres and funding bodies in planning and carrying out actions that advance gender equality. It guides institutions through every stage of organisational change, starting from the initial decision to establish a Gender Equality Plan (GEP), through implementation, monitoring, and assessment of results. 

Its framework is built to support long-term institutional commitment, ensuring that gender equality is treated as an integral part of organisational governance rather than a short-term initiative. 

Why It Matters 

Despite progress in recent years, structural inequalities remain evident throughout academic and research environments. Women continue to be underrepresented in senior positions, research leadership, and high-prestige fields, while research content often reflects gender bias. 

The GEAR tool helps organizations change from fragmented or symbolic efforts to a structured and results-driven approach. Following a defined process data collection, planning, implementation, oversight institutions can establish realistic objectives, coordinate involvement across departments, and implement practices that support long-term cultural and organisational change. 

How does it relate to FEMLEAD? 

Both GEAR and FEMLEAD aim to advance gender equality in research/academic contexts. GEAR provides institutional support for change; FEMLEAD utilizes interventions in HEIs focusing on STEM/open science and female leadership. Additionally, they operate within the same broader EU framework: gender equality in R&I as a policy priority. 

Complementarity of scope 

GEAR addresses the institutional processes necessary for a change: policies, plans, monitoring, implementation across research organizations and funding bodies. FEMLEAD can be seen as an operational project that focuses on that institutional change logic, but focuses more on STEM/open science, training, and implementing gender equality measures in HEIs. For instance, FEMLEAD’s development of Gender Equality Implementation Plans aligns with the concept of GEPs within GEAR’s organization. 

Mutual reinforcement 

Institutions using GEAR could adopt or integrate FEMLEAD’s outputs (training modules, process tools) as part of their implementation of gender equality measures. FEMLEAD’s pilot activities and policy labs generate evidence and good practices, which feed into the kind of “How?” and monitoring guidance that GEAR provides. 

Policy and practice linkage 

Since GEAR is built on EU-level policy requirements (eg. GEPs for Horizon Europe and national context guidance, FEMLEAD is a practical implementation model for parts of that policy (feminine participation, inclusive research, open science). 

Institutions participating in FEMLEAD may utilize GEAR as a strategic tool to ensure their gender equality plan is aligned with institutional standards and EU policy, while using FEMLEAD content for operational actions and capacity building. 

Summary 

The GEAR tool offers a structural, policy-oriented framework for gender equality in research institutions. FEMLEAD provides operational, project-based interventions specifically targeting women’s participation in STEM and open science within HEIs. Together, they function as complementary pieces: GEAR defines the “institutional scaffolding” and FEMLEAD provides concrete “implementation actions” in a specific field; STEM and open science.