The BioRegion of Catalonia includes more than 1,300 companies in the life sciences and healthcare sector. Since 2010, on average, a new company has been created every week, and one in four of these are spinoffs from universities and research centers. Of the more than 1,300 companies in the BioRegion, the largest group is represented by 335 biotechnology companies, 76 of which are focused on the production of new therapies and diagnostic tool. Biocat, the organization that coordinates and promotes the life sciences and health sector in Catalonia, elaborated in 2022 the report: The gender gap in the life sciences and healthcare sector: situation, challenges and recommendations. The main objectives of the report were to describe the situation of women in the sector, identifying good practices and elements of value and implementing concrete measures. The report from Biocat, identified several good practices in the healthcare sector coming from the public and private sector.

The session will be dedicated to showcase good practices for minimizing gender biases in companies within the healthcare sector through examples of startups led by women. One example will be an innovative startup whose mission is to eradicate infertility, a globally prominent condition that affects approximately 200 million people and causes significant financial, psychological, and physical strain on patients. Another example will come from the experience of a startup advancing in the validation and market launch of a diagnostic test for the improvement of endometrial cancer diagnosis, representing an innovative solution in women's health.

The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) is the global leader in gender equity, advancing women into positions of influence and decision-making to improve health equity and outcomes.

The organization is comprised of individuals and organizations in healthcare committed to:

• Achieving gender parity in leadership positions
• Providing equitable practices that enable organizations to realize the full potential of women.
• Facilitating career and business connections to accelerate advancement

This session will include a panel of Marina Rigau, CEO, Mimark; Robert Fabregat, CEO of Biocat; and Laura Requejo, HBA Chapter Leader.