“Research work, as many other aspects in life, is only subject to the capacity of people, and the presence of women in the formative stage as well as in the professional one should be, at least, as large as the male one”, claims Montse Casas-Cabanas. “Nobody should think it strange to see a woman at the forefront of an area of scientific responsibility” states doctor Casas-Cabanas. In her opinion, models like CIC energiGUNE’s, which are based on the promotion exclusively based on the merits of people, demonstrate that women’s lesser presence in positions of high scientific responsibility is an anomalous factor unconnected to the reality of science in general.

In this sense, Montse Casas-Cabanas is now also responsible for the leadership of the groups of "Modelling and computational simulation", "Advanced Electrode materials", and "Integration of advanced electrolytes and cells". Moreover, it should be highlighted that she has been involved in the development of the FAULTS program, which has turned into a usage reference among researchers and professionals of the battery industry, and her position as Principal Investigator of various European projects and national plans.

“We look for and retain the best scientist in the field of storage, whether they are men or women and we promote diversity”, concludes Asier Urzelai about the presence of women in leadership positions in entities connected to science and technology. “The trajectory that we have taken here, without undertaking any specific measures about it but helping in the professional growth of each person, is just a natural process that inevitably leads to equality”.

Ikerbasque’s report

CIC energiGUNE’s reality, nevertheless, is very different to that of the rest of the research centres in the Basque Country, as the last report published by Ikerbasque reveals. The data collected about women’s presence in science reflects that the gender gap lingers on and that, in fact, it increases as the research career advances.

In this sense, the document records that, even if the number of doctoral students at the Basque CICs is practically equal among men and women, women who decide to continue in science after having obtained their doctorate decreases progressively and the largest loss is reflected when it comes to leading their own laboratories and research groups, until it reaches a proportion of 90-10. CIC energiGUNE is, therefore, a prominent exception in this field.