The research project Gennovation at Karlstad University aims to provide small and medium-sized enterprises in Värmland with better conditions for growth and enhanced competitiveness.
By integrating gender, equality, and inclusion as strategic tools for business development and innovation, the project seeks to contribute to more sustainable regional development.
Gennovation is a four-year project funded by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), Region Värmland, and Karlstad University. It is a collaboration between the Centre for Gender Studies (CGF) and the Service Research Center (CTF).
– Many companies lack concrete methods for working systematically with gender equality issues, which hampers both their capacity for innovation and their ability to attract and retain talent, says project leader Sara Davoudi, Senior Lecturer in Business Administration at the Karlstad Business School and CTF – which is also the recipient of the project’s funding.
The Gennovation project includes a development program where participating companies gain access to practical tools and tailored advice to develop inclusive business models and working methods. During the project period, a platform for co-creation and exchange of experiences between companies, researchers, and other stakeholders will also be established.
– The goal is to strengthen companies’ ability to work strategically with gender, equality, and inclusion – which in turn is expected to lead to increased innovation capacity and long-term sustainability in the region, says Sara Davoudi.
