On 30 October 2025, the final conference of the PENELOPE project: Pioneering Gender Equality Through Clusters in European SMEs took place. This virtual meeting was the culmination of three years of collaboration between partners, cluster managers, policy makers and representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises from across Europe.
The project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, has been a pioneering initiative in integrating the gender perspective into European business ecosystems through clusters. Its goal: to demonstrate that equality is not only a matter of justice, but also a driver of innovation, competitiveness and sustainability.
A cluster-based strategy
PENELOPE was founded on the conviction that business clusters play an essential role in transforming Europe’s industrial fabric. Through these clusters, it is possible to promote the incorporation of gender equality into the strategies and structures of SMEs, fostering more inclusive, resilient and equitable environments.
The consortium has been made up of five partners from France, Austria, Romania and Spain, combining expertise in cluster management, research and equality policies. In the case of Spain, participation has been led by the AMUEBLA cluster, representing the housing sector.
Tangible results and practical tools
Over the past three years, PENELOPE has developed a comprehensive collection of resources designed to support clusters and SMEs on their path towards gender equality:
- 28 best practices and 20 interviews with clusters, companies and policy makers.
- Toolkit with 18 practical resources and a comprehensive Training Manual.
- 22 short videos addressing gender equality and female participation in the labour market.
- A free e-learning platform for five years, with adaptive and gamified content in two training pathways.
- A methodological workshop guide to help clusters organise awareness-raising sessions for SMEs.
These materials form a comprehensive training programme designed to translate the principles of equality into everyday business practice.
From experience to legacy
The PENELOPE team has demonstrated that promoting gender equality in companies not only improves the working environment, but also strengthens the capacity for innovation and adaptation of the European productive fabric. The experiences shared by participating clusters and companies show that committing to inclusion creates stronger teams and more competitive organisations.
Although the project is coming to an end, its impact will endure through the resources available on its website and associated platforms. All materials—manuals, videos, guides, and the training platform—will remain freely accessible to ensure their continuity and replicability across Europe.
📍 More information:
🌐 Website: https://penelope-project.org/
The handbook: https://penelope-project.org/gender-mainstreaming-for-cluster-teams-handbook/
The e-learning platform: https://penelope.learning-platform.eu/
The videos on Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PENELOPE-Project-EU
The LinkedIn Penelope page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/penelope-project
The workshop methodology : https://penelope-project.org/workshops-methodology-guide/
There is still the possibility to participate to the online SME workshop in French on the 13th of November! Register here!
In the words of the consortium:
“PENELOPE has demonstrated that gender equality and industrial innovation are deeply connected. The project is concluding, but its spirit continues in every cluster, SME, and individual who decides to make inclusion a driver of change.”
