A new study from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research Women has found women and communities of color, remain underrepresented within the innovation ecosystem in the United States. The policy research institute has projected that at recent rates of change, women will not see parity in patenting until 2092.
“Gender and racial/ethnic diversity in patenting, innovation, and commercialization is critical to developing cutting-edge solutions to the nation’s most pressing issues, yet more work needs to be done to ensure that the innovation teams creating these solutions reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of the U.S. population,” the report said.
The report offers insights on programs that can improve access to funding and capital, and ensure that women have the information and resources needed to innovate and patent.
One study that analyzed data on information technology (IT) patents granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) found that in 2013, women were only 10.8 percent of all inventors on patents for whom gender was able to be determined.
Recent research indicates that women are less likely to patent and commercialize their inventions. As of 2010, only 18.8 percent of all patents granted had at least one woman inventor listed.
Women’s underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is one factor contributing to the gender gap in patenting, the report said.
Only 2.3 percent of both Native American and Hispanic working women are employed in STEM fields, compared with 11.3 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander women and 4.9 percent of White women.
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