New Delhi, July 22 (ANI): The Women Empowerment Vertical of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI WE) has released a white paper titled “Women in Innovation, Science & Entrepreneurship (WISE): Challenges and Opportunities,” outlining a strategic roadmap to strengthen women’s participation in science, technology, innovation, and business ecosystems across BRICS member economies.
The white paper was developed following the BRICS CCI WE Trailblazers Roundtable 2026.
It identifies seven key structural barriers affecting women in emerging economies, including social bias, funding gaps, intellectual property protection challenges, low participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), mid-career retention issues, policy gaps, and the lack of recognition for unpaid economic contributions.
“Gender equality in STEM should not be merely a ‘rallying cry’ confined to a small circle of women,” said Ruby Sinha, president of BRICS CCI WE and program lead for WISE.
“It has become increasingly clear that women need global networks that function as communities and economic ecosystems. Women leaders need to work toward creating a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling more women to take leadership positions in new-age technologies. The future of innovation cannot be inclusive unless women are equally represented in shaping it,” Sinha added.
The white paper notes that despite rising educational attainment, women-led businesses continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital funding and face obstacles in securing intellectual property protection.
HRH Lebogang Zulu, national chairperson of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance South Africa and a Global Advisory Board member of WISE, emphasized the need for systemic reforms.
“We need to shift the conversation from gender equality to female equity,” Zulu said.
“The focus must move toward creating systems that address what women actually require to participate fully in entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. Equity is about enabling outcomes, not just representation,” she added.
To address these challenges, the white paper recommends a range of policy measures, including gender-responsive procurement, the creation of a BRICS WISE Fund, blended finance models, expanded digital literacy initiatives, structured career re-entry pathways, and a Women Entrepreneurs Digital Registry.
It also calls for caregiving support frameworks, harmonized intellectual property protection systems, and stronger multi-sector collaboration to build sustainable and inclusive innovation ecosystems. (ANI)
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