By implementing the PENELOPE project, the main objective was to equip European SMEs and clusters with the skills, tools, and methods needed to integrate gender equality at the core of their practices, as they often lack these resources even while national and European requirements on equality are being strengthened. The project also aimed to enhance the capacity of clusters to fully play their role as structuring actors, capable of disseminating innovative and inclusive practices across their networks and supporting their members, who are mostly SMEs, in developing strategies and actions to promote gender equality in the workplace. Overall, the project sought to demonstrate that fairer work environments can be created while improving competitiveness and enhancing corporate image. More broadly, it aimed to foster a sustainable cultural transformation within SMEs and contribute to a European industry that is more equitable, efficient, and aligned with the European Union’s social and economic priorities.
The PENELOPE project was designed to address the ongoing needs of European SMEs regarding gender equality. Despite progress, inequalities persist in terms of access to employment, working conditions, pay, and access to leadership positions, notably due to deeply ingrained stereotypes. At the European level, policies remain heterogeneous, and companies (especially SMEs) often lack the resources, skills, and tools to act effectively and in a structured way. PENELOPE addresses these needs by supporting both SMEs, which do not have the means to sustainably integrate gender equality into their practices, and clusters, helping them guide companies, structure their actions, and highlight the role of women in industrial ecosystems. By developing a variety of tailored training tools, the project provides concrete levers to reduce inequalities, strengthen stakeholders’ capacities, and contribute to a more inclusive, competitive, and future-ready European industry.