In 2000 European leaders meeting in Lisbon agreed a ten-year strategy to make the EU ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world’. This strategy includes a target to increase the employment rate of women in Europe to more than 60% by 2010.

Women have the skills to make a major contribution to economies across Europe. Women are increasingly well educated. In 2003 58% of new graduates in Europe were women. But women’s skills are under-used.Only 55.1% of women in Europe are in paid work compared to 70.9% of men. Many women that are in work are working below their education and skill level.

KMM-NoE is working to ensure gender equality isses are addressed within the project. Through workshops and questionnaires, the KMM-NoE project is able to gather information on the education, role and professional status of women involved in the KMM-NoE.