Portugal: women to make up 30% of ICT specialists

In November 2025, the Council of Ministers approved the first phase of the National Programme for Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), running from early 2026 to late 2029, with a budget of EUR 13.25 million. The programme aims to have women make up 30% of ICT specialists in Portugal by 2030.

The Council of Ministers resolution prioritises education and training, including VET and higher education, in the programme’s first phase, calling for collaboration among public bodies, educational institutions, businesses, and civil society. Early exposure to STEM and guidance are emphasised as key to shaping career choices, supporting the European goal of greater STEM involvement through initial and continuing VET.

Why focus on girls in STEM

Despite progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM fields, particularly in ICT, limiting their participation in the digital economy.

According to data cited in this Council of Ministers Resolution, in Portugal, only one in four ICT specialists is a woman (Eurostat, 2024), and only three in ten graduates from STEM courses are female (Eurostat, 2023).

Also, at a younger age, girls generally outperform boys in computer and information literacy (ICILS, 2023), but as they get older and reach higher levels of education, girls tend to move away from ICT and STEM.

Programme as a driver of inclusion

Aligned with the National Digital Strategy, the National Programme for Girls in STEM seeks to attract, retain, and advance girls and women in STEM through integrated actions across all education sectors and the labour market.

This reflects the Government’s commitment to gender equality in the digital era, consistent with the national strategy for equality and non-discrimination and the Sustainable Development Goal on Gender Equality.

From pre-school to upper secondary, the aim is to stimulate young girls’ interest in STEM, encouraging them to pursue VET and higher education, and ultimately careers in these fields.

In higher education, the goal is to promote more inclusive and favourable conditions for retaining women in the digital field, and to encourage continuous training to foster greater female participation in the digital sector.

Cross-cutting actions are also planned to ensure alignment with national and international initiatives promoting gender equality in STEM.

Strategic objectives and actions

The first phase of the programme focuses on the following objectives and actions:

1. encouraging girls’ interest and participation in STEM and ICT subjects within VET programmes: awareness-raising initiatives aimed at dismantling gender stereotypes, namely with regard to academic and career choices, ensuring inclusive learning environments, through integrating content appropriate to teacher training programmes, workshops, lectures, communication campaigns featuring women professionals in STEM, and practical activities with inclusive educational content;
2. reducing gender gaps in higher education: promoting events such as hackathons and career fairs to improve employability and retention of women in STEM and ICT fields; creating an Ambassadors network of accomplished women in STEM; and establishing a national award for top-performing females completing STEM master’s degrees;
3. breaking the “glass ceiling”: introducing leadership and mentoring programmes supported by a network of female mentors in STEM and ICT;
4. ensuring alignment with broader initiatives; creating a Government-endorsed emblem for projects fostering girls’ and women’s interest in STEM and establishing the International Alliance for Girls in STEM to facilitate international cooperation.

The National Programme for Girls in STEM represents a structural initiative with far-reaching impacts on equal opportunities, competitiveness, and innovation. It relies especially on VET to foster gender equality and digital‑economy inclusion.

Read more:

• Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 175/2025, of 10 November
• National Digital Strategy
• International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) in Europe, 2023
• National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018–2030 — Portugal + Equal (ENIND)
• Sustainable Development Goal “Gender Equality”