Feminisation of Scientific Professions: Medef Commits to Action

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Medef brought together at the Institut Pasteur the three key stakeholders in a collective effort to address the challenge of increasing women’s representation in scientific and technological fields: business, education, and the research community.

Throughout the afternoon, exhibitions, roundtables, and testimonials structured the discussions. Public decision-makers, business leaders, education professionals, and representatives of the non-profit sector gathered around a shared objective: to inspire young girls and accelerate the feminization of these fields.

A collective response to a societal challenge

In a context where scientific and technological sectors remain largely male-dominated, the event underscored the urgency of acting early to reshape perceptions and dismantle persistent stereotypes.

Patricia Vialle, co-managing director of Abel Crabos and President of the Medef Women’s Network, opened the event by highlighting the need to reshape perceptions in order to open up new career pathways for young girls.

Virginie Fauvel, CEO of Harvest, co-chair of Medef’s Digital and Innovation Committee and sponsor of “Code F,” shared her personal journey and commitment, illustrating the opportunities offered by these rapidly evolving sectors.

From dialogue to concrete solutions

The afternoon was structured around a series of interactive roundtables focused on three key themes: women’s career paths in science and technology, becoming a Code F ambassador, and best practices to support girls from educational orientation through to professional integration.

These discussions fostered meaningful exchanges, highlighted the diversity of career trajectories, and identified practical levers to strengthen the presence of women at every stage—from education to employment.

Connecting Young People with Future Careers

Édouard Geffray, Minister of National Education, and Patrick Martin, President of Medef, have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening ties between schools and businesses. This three-year partnership will be rolled out nationwide, with particular attention given to the most vulnerable groups.

Better guidance, earlier

From Year 9 onwards, students will benefit from work placements and greater exposure to in-demand careers. The promotion of scientific and technological fields among young women will also be reinforced through the “Code F” initiative, helping to broaden perspectives and inspire new ambitions. Economic Heritage Days, along with company immersion programmes for education staff, will further deepen understanding of the professional world.

Smoother pathways into employment

The agreement places strong emphasis on vocational education and work-based learning. Professionals from the business community will contribute directly to teaching, ensuring that training is more closely aligned with labour market needs and expectations.

Equal opportunities at the core

Mentoring, entrepreneurship, and the fight against early school leaving are central to the initiative. Programmes such as “prépa-métiers” classes, alongside stronger business engagement in educational initiatives, aim to support more informed and confident career choices.

Changing perceptions from an early age

Beyond this event, a clear conviction emerged: equality in scientific and technological careers cannot be decreed—it must be built patiently, collectively, and over time.

Inspiring girls today means not only expanding individual opportunities, but also addressing broader economic, social, and cultural transformations that are shaping the world of tomorrow.

In this context, Airs de Paris gathered several meaningful testimonies.

Martine Levy, long engaged in public equality policies, emphasized that progress in female representation, particularly through quota policies, has helped rebalance institutional structures, while also underlining the need for deeper cultural change.

In a similar perspective, Marie-Laure Bonnin highlighted the structuring role of the UIMM. Representing nearly 42,000 companies and 1.5 million employees, the organization actively works to enhance the attractiveness of industrial careers and promote greater diversity of profiles.

Through its initiatives, UIMM helps make often overlooked professions more visible and builds concrete bridges between education and industry. By promoting immersion, encounters, and hands-on experience, it contributes to reshaping perceptions of industry and revealing its real opportunities.

An ongoing transformation

This event at the Institut Pasteur confirms a strong momentum: growing engagement from institutions, companies, and the education sector to foster a new generation of women in science and technology.

An essential transformation at the intersection of equality, innovation, and the construction of a more balanced future.