Ensuring the active promotion of gender equality and inclusiveness entails opening up gender equality policies in R&I to diversity, and more specifically to: social categories and grounds for discrimination intersecting with gender, such as ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic status; ensuring geographical inclusiveness; and opening to the innovation and private sector.

During its lifetime, the action should:

• Develop knowledge and build capacities, competences and expertise on the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of inclusive gender equality plans and policies in R&I with a variety of European and national stakeholders. Special consideration will be given to mutual learning exercises to enhance the competence of national gender equality representatives, including helping less experienced national gender equality representatives to acquire expertise;
• Further the development of a transnational Community of Practice of R&I funding organisations for the promotion of an inclusive and gender-responsive culture change in R&I institutions across the European Union;
• A specific focus should be placed on developing joint activities with actors from the private, innovation and entrepreneurship sectors, from across the European Union;
• Develop various innovative engagement activities, connect citizens, experts and policy-makers, and contribute to policy making on inclusive gender equality in R&I at national and European administration level;
• The work by this action should be performed in coordination with ERA-related official groups, such as the ERA Forum, and in collaboration with the European Commission, in line with ERA objectives.

The participation of national representatives of at least 23 Member States, and in addition, of national representatives from Associated Countries, to the consortium, is strongly encouraged, and the project should engage and deploy activities with all EU Member States and, as much as possible, with all Associated Countries.

The action should also develop close cooperation with relevant ERA stakeholders, including umbrella organisations, sharing knowledge and evidence, and build as well on the outputs and recommendations of related initiatives funded under Horizon 2020-SwafS.