Gender equality is set to become a core focus in technological innovation with the launch of InspireLab, a new center inaugurated on Monday at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The center is dedicated to advancing gender equality through technology and innovation.

InspireLab will support projects that leverage technology to enhance women’s lives, address real-world challenges, and foster more sustainable and equitable societal development. Special attention will be given to initiatives that are both forward-thinking and impactful.

“We need to accelerate progress on gender equality,” said Pia Höök, the center’s director, during the inauguration ceremony.

Beyond providing research funding, InspireLab aims to broaden public awareness, establish graduate education programs, and generate research that can be integrated into KTH’s teaching and long-term strategic research.

“It’s time to elevate these research areas,” stated KTH President Anders Söderholm in his speech. “This center is timely and crucial given today’s context. I hope it will influence both our education and the way our engineers shape the future.”

Annika Borgenstam, KTH’s Vice President for Research, emphasized the university’s strong commitment to gender equality both in academic research and as a workplace.

InspireLab is already supporting three research projects led by KTH faculty that tackle specific gender-related issues:

• Preventing birth injuries and addressing their long-term impact on women’s health

• Redesigning digital consent mechanisms to counter the damage caused by deepfake pornography

• Developing AI systems that more accurately represent the diverse experiences of women

Source: https://www.kth.se/en/om/nyheter/centrala-nyheter/nytt-centrum-satter-jamstalldhet-i-fokus-for-teknikutvecklingen-1.1408831