By Julia Messina-Pacheco, Science & Policy Exchange

In the midst of growing pushback against DEI measures in the U.S., the conversation about gender equity in STEM has never been more important.

Turning groundbreaking research into market-ready innovations is a challenge for anyone, but for women in STEM, the obstacles are even greater. Despite significant contributions to fields like biotech, AI, and clean tech, transforming research into marketable innovations can often feel out of reach. For women trying to commercialize their work, the barriers are real and numerous, including limited access to funding, exclusion from key networking circles, and outdated institutional structures that fail to meet their needs.

The funding gap is one of the biggest hurdles. Venture capital (VC) is critical when it comes to taking research out of the lab and into the marketplace, but the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub found that women receive just 2.3% of all VC funding in Canada despite running 16% of small and medium-sized enterprises. For STEM startups, the situation gets even tougher, with studies showing that venture capitalists are more likely to ask men about growth potential (a sign of ambition) and women about risk (a red flag). As a result, women-led ventures are often underfunded or ignored, even though the research they’re commercializing could be groundbreaking.

In addition to funding challenges, women entrepreneurs often face the dual pressures of professional responsibilities and caregiving duties.

This “double burden” can significantly impede their ability to focus on scaling their businesses. A recent report by Lean In and McKinsey & Company found that women are more likely than men to be responsible for household tasks, and as they advance in their careers, this imbalance grows. At senior levels, a larger percentage of women report taking on most of the caregiving responsibilities compared to their male counterparts. Without flexible support systems in place, many promising female-led ventures struggle to gain traction and reach their full potential.

Then there’s the issue of intellectual property. Despite making major contributions to research, women are far less likely than men to file patents. A 2023 report by Statistics Canada found that men-owned businesses account for a larger share of patent applications, with the gap widening in recent years. In rapidly growing sectors like AI, the disparity is even more stark. At the international scale, there is one woman for every three men involved in AI patenting — but in Canada, that ratio drops to one woman for every six men, according to a report by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. This lack of representation in the patenting process is another roadblock to commercialization, leaving women’s innovations unprotected and under-appreciated.

Of course, none of this is happening in a vacuum. Women in STEM face a significant networking gap, too. Entrepreneurship often depends on strong industry connections, but too many women find themselves excluded from key events, business partnerships, and decision-making spaces. Without access to these informal networks, women are left at a disadvantage when it comes to turning their research into successful businesses.

So, what’s being done about it? Some organizations are stepping up. Programs like ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs from YES Employment + Entrepreneurship and McGill University’s Entrepreneurial Women Lean Startup program, are providing tailored mentorship, funding, and support to women-led businesses. Other initiatives, such as Mitacs’ Entrepreneur International, are helping female researchers take their work to a global stage. But despite these promising efforts, it’s clear that more needs to be done.

First, Canada’s venture capital ecosystem needs to become more inclusive. By implementing gender-inclusive funding programs and ensuring that women have a seat at the decision-making table, we can ensure that women-led STEM ventures receive the support they need. Investment firms should track gender-based data, and diverse representation in funding bodies should be a priority. This would be a simple yet transformative change to make the funding landscape more equitable.

Another major step is for institutions and funding agencies to create flexible grants that support women researchers balancing family care with entrepreneurship. Flexible timelines, childcare support, and return-to-work funding can help women continue their work without having to choose between research and family.

Women in STEM are driving incredible innovation, yet the barriers to turning their research into successful businesses remain. With improved funding, mentorship, and support structures, Canada can unlock a new wave of innovation and build a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In the midst of growing pushback against DEI measures in the U.S., the conversation about gender equity in STEM has never been more important. As political leaders and policymakers attempt to roll back efforts to promote diversity, it’s crucial that Canada continues to champion the participation of women in STEM fields, especially in commercialization. When we talk about breaking down barriers for women in STEM, it’s not just a matter of social justice — it’s about ensuring that Canada’s innovation ecosystem remains competitive and diverse. By investing in women’s research, supporting their ventures, and offering the tools they need to succeed, we stand firm in the face of these setbacks and build a future where science and technology are shaped by the contributions of all.