Women in science: leadership and deep tech startups

The contribution of women to scientific research in Spain is undeniable, yet significant imbalances still exist. According to the CSIC Women Researchers Report (2024), women in permanent research positions represent 37.6% of the institution’s scientific workforce. Female researchers at CSIC produce research of the same scope, impact, reach, and funding capacity as their male counterparts, demonstrating that equality is not only a matter of fairness but also a requirement for improving the quality and relevance of scientific research. Despite recent progress, however, inequality remains a reality. Women continue to be underrepresented in many scientific and technological disciplines while also facing a glass ceiling that limits their progression into leadership positions.

The presence of women in science dates back to around 3000 BC.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Merit Ptah was described in ancient Egypt as a “Chief Physician,” making her the first woman known by name in the history of medicine.
Since then, countless women have contributed to the advancement and transmission of human knowledge, often without receiving the recognition they deserved.

Throughout history, women have transformed science despite the barriers imposed by their times. Below are some of the most influential figures.

Hypatia was the last great scientist of classical antiquityworking in Roman Egypt during a period of cultural and religious transition between paganism and Christianity.

A pioneering physicist and chemist, Marie Curie discovered radium and polonium.
She became the first person in history to win two Nobel Prizes for her research into radioactivity, a legacy achieved at significant personal cost to her own health.

Lise Meitner was the theoretical physicist who discovered nuclear fission and provided the first scientific explanation of the process, fundamentally reshaping twentieth-century science.
The Nobel Prize, however, was awarded solely to her collaborator Otto Hahn.

A chemist and professor, Ángela García de la Puerta became the first woman to earn a doctorate in science from the University of Zaragoza and one of the first women to lead a scientific institute in Spain.

A visionary inventor and Hollywood actress, Hedy Lamarr developed a radio communication system designed to guide Allied torpedoes during World War II.
Her innovation became one of the foundations of modern Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS technologies.

As a mathematician at NASA, Katherine Johnson’s calculations in orbital mechanics and trajectory design were critical to the first American crewed spaceflight and the success of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Rosalind Franklin played a crucial role in discovering the double-helix structure of DNA through her famous Photograph 51.
Her work became foundational to modern molecular biology.

A brilliant chemist, María Josefa Molera built the first gas chromatograph in Spain.
She founded the Spanish Chromatography Society and became known for her research in chemical kinetics and analytical studies of products such as wine.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential Spanish scientists in history, Margarita Salas trained under Nobel Prize winner Severo Ochoa and led Spain’s first molecular biology laboratory.
Her discovery of the phi29 DNA polymeraserevolutionized biotechnology and resulted in the most profitable patent in CSIC’s history.

María Blasco, Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), is internationally recognized for her research on telomeres and telomerase.

As an industrial engineer, Elena García Armada develops pioneering bionic technologies. Her achievements include creating the world's first pediatric exoskeleton for children with mobility impairments and robotic rescue systems designed for disaster environments.
As these examples demonstrate, female scientific and intellectual leadership is not a recent phenomenon. It has been a constant driver of some of humanity’s most important advances, often achieved despite historical invisibility.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to promote equal access and full participation for women and girls in scientific disciplines.
In Spain, organizations such as the Margarita Salas Foundation celebrate February 11 by highlighting scientific role models who can inspire future generations.
The data that justify these initiatives are compelling. Although women earn more than half of all university degrees, their participation in STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) remains significantly lower, accounting for only around 25% of students.

According to CSIC data, nearly 10,000 Spanish and international female researchers working in Spanish institutions appear in Google Scholar rankings.
Yet the distribution across seniority levels reveals the persistence of the gender gap:

• Senior Research Scientists: 43.5%
• Scientific Researchers: 35.8%
• Research Professors: 26.9%

These figures reflect what is commonly known as the scissors effect. While women represent 51.3% of researchers at the predoctoral stage, their presence steadily declines throughout the career ladder until they account for fewer than one-third of the most senior scientific positions.
The situation is even more pronounced in institute leadership roles and scientific evaluation bodies, where representation frequently falls below 20%.
According to the same report, the overall CSIC Glass Ceiling Index stands at 1.42, reaching 2.28 in Natural Resources and 1.74 in Chemical Sciences and Technologies.
An index value of 1 indicates equality, while higher values reveal increasing barriers to advancement.
To address this reality, CSIC’s Women and Science Commission actively supports equality policies and conducts ongoing analysis of gender-related data.
However, the journey of women in science no longer ends in the laboratory. Increasingly, female researchers are becoming science-based entrepreneurstransforming scientific discoveries into businesses, products, and services with tangible impact.

Within the deep tech ecosystem, the number of spin-offs founded by women continues to grow, although the gender gap remains more pronounced than in traditional sectors.
According to the study Women Founders in European Deep Tech Start-ups, only 14% of deep tech startup founders in Europe are women, and companies led by women receive just 11.4% of total available funding.
This imbalance is particularly striking given that female founders typically possess higher average levels of education than their male counterparts.
Below are a few examples of women leading innovation in deep tech.

At biotechnology, female researchers are increasingly transforming patented scientific discoveries into high-impact healthcare solutions
One example is Marisol Soengas, a researcher at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), who developed the MetAlert system aimed at preventing melanoma metastasis.

Regarding advanced materialsresearchers are increasingly moving beyond the laboratory to commercialize sustainable technologies with both environmental and economic impact.
This is the case of Alicia García, a chemical engineer and researcher who leads the spin-off Photonitras focused on biological indicators for water safety.

One of the most prominent female leaders in neurotechnology is Ana Maiques, co-founder and CEO of Neuroelectrics. Originally established as a spin-off from Starlab, the Barcelona-based company develops non-invasive brain stimulation devices for treating neurological disorders such as epilepsy and depression. Founded in 2011, Neuroelectrics now operates in 74 countries.

Another woman who stands out in the field of biotechnology and sustainability is Lorena Escuer, founder and Technical Director of Hidromel.
Her company specializes in biological pest control, using living organisms to protect agricultural and urban environments while reducing dependence on chemical treatments.

Nuria Oliver She led initiatives that used aggregated data to model disease transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic and served as Commissioner for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Strategy for the Government of Valencia.
Today, she is co-founder and Director of the ELLIS Alicante Foundation, a leading initiative focused on ethical, human-centered AI.
Despite their achievements, these leaders continue to face structural barriers, including gender bias in venture capital allocation and limited access to traditionally male-dominated professional networks.
The real challenge today is ensuring that women-led disruptive innovation also leads the market. To overcome the barriers they face, it is essential to have the right support.

At Bolboreta Innova Group, we have specialized teams dedicated to strategic collaboration and the management of science-driven, high-impact innovation projects.
Through Bolboreta Investiga,, we support female scientists in validating scientific hypotheses and assessing market viability, acting as a catalyst that helps disruptive innovation move from the laboratory into the real world.
Through Bolboreta Impulsa we take the next step, connecting founders with entrepreneurial ecosystems and impact-focused venture capital. We provide mentoring, funding opportunities, and access to investors aligned with women-led deep tech startups, where financial returns and social transformation advance together.
Finally, Bolboreta Desarrolla provides the technological execution needed to transform innovation into viable and competitive products.
If you are looking to accelerate your scientific project with the support of a strategic partner, we invite you to share your idea with us and explore how we can help it grow.