Gender Equality Plans (GEP) have been the focus of several dozens of EU funded projects - including FP7 framework, Horizon 2020, and, HORIZON-WIDERA-ERA 2021 and 2022 (e.g. Plotina, LeTSGEPs) - which produced a wide range of innovative tools and recommendations to enforce, promote, and monitor gender equality in European Research and Innovation Organisations (RIO). 

The most well-known GEP tool is the Gender Equality in Academia and  Research (GEAR) action tool-box provided by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) 

Most European RIO followed this track and implemented GEP, in compliance with EU and national recommendations/obligations.

GEP have effectively fostered equality of opportunity for women in European RIO. Gender gaps in recruiting, promotion, budget-shares, representation at the top of the hierarchy of European RIO have significantly declined in the past decade. However, gender inequalities persist and are especially pronounced for people who belong to gender minoroty groups, who are still  largely discriminated against, and at high risk of Gender-Based harassment and Violence. Lacking diversity and inclusion for all gender groups is not only harmful to gender equality but also to RIO attractivity, performance and productivity. 

Although most GEP explicitly account for diversity and inclusion, GEP tools cannot be easily applied to gender minority groups. To effectively foster gender equality for all  gender groups,  GEPINC proposes to developp new tools, and actions targeted at fostering the integration of gender minority groups in European RIO. GEPINC proposed activities are engines of change, which will durably promote gender diversity and inclusion in European R& I and generate impact with long-lasting changes in research and RIO performance and attractivity.