The journey is challenging, but women in STEM are breaking barriers, redefining leadership, and shaping the future of industrial automation, says Darshana Thakkar.

The theme for International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’. According to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender parity. The theme is indicating more rapid progress towards gender equality and parity. To realise the dream of a Viksit Bharat, we must prioritise empowering women's inclusivity across the sectors.

The world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has been a catalyst for economic growth, industrial progress, and technological advancements. However, the representation of women in STEM—especially in industrial automation, AI, and manufacturing—has remained disproportionately low. Despite these challenges, women have been at the forefront of disruptive innovations, digital transformation, and industrial automation breakthroughs, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of Industry 4.0 and beyond.

Women in STEM: India vs. Global perspective

India is one of the countries that produce the highest number of scientists and engineers, and the growth of STEM has picked up significantly over the last few years.

Globally, women constitute 28% of the workforce in STEM fields, while in India, it is 27%. However, in India the leadership representation remains low, with only 14% of leadership roles in STEM globally held by women. In India, the STEM gender gap starts widening at the mid-career level, as women face challenges in career progression due to workplace biases, limited mentorship opportunities, and societal norms.

Reasons for the low participation of women in India

• Skill inadequacy and assigned stereotypical gender roles.
• Authoritative attitudes in hiring practices or awarding fellowships and grants, etc.
• The situation generates concerns among girls and women about their suitability only for certain ‘soft’ fields and professions leading to self-doubt.
• Self-doubt among women professionals limits them from applying for leadership roles.
• Lack of role models, pressures to conform to societal norms and trappings of domesticity.
• Stressors related to marriage, childbirth, etc.
• Women are expected to manage both home and work, for which they require more flexible schedules.
• Physical safety during the commute to work.
• Sexual and other types of harassment in workplaces, etc.

There are not enough female role models whom women may admire and follow (of the 866 Nobel winners so far, only 53 have gone to women).

Importance  of women's participation in STEM

• Women’s participation in STEM could spur economic growth and promote gender equality worldwide.
• Involving more women and girls in science can help create a more diverse and inclusive scientific community.
• Different perspectives of females can bring valuable insights and advancements to scientific research and discovery .
• STEM is crucial to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (gender equality) which includes women’s use of enabling technology.

Despite these barriers, India has produced outstanding women leaders in STEM, making significant contributions to space research, artificial intelligence, robotics, and industrial automation. The global recognition of Dr Tessy Thomas (Missile Woman of India) and the leadership of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Founder of Biocon) showcase India's strength in STEM.

Additionally, initiatives like STEM mentorship programs, diversity hiring policies, and government-led programs such as ‘Vigyan Jyoti’ are playing a crucial role in increasing women’s participation in STEM fields. I would like to share a few government initiatives that help our young STEM women and future STEM women to leverage the benefits.

Major government initiatives

1. STI Policy of DST (Department of Science & Technology):

• Science, Technology and Innovation (SIT) India aims to increase women's participation in STEM to 30% by 2030.

• Currently, women make up 27% of the STEM workforce in India (as per reports from UNESCO and World Bank).

• Despite lower overall participation, DST has a relatively higher proportion of women scientists (36%)Currently, 35 of the 97 scientists in DST are women.

• In DST 11 of 18 divisions are headed by women, i.e., 61 percent of women in leadership. That’s a remarkable achievement of the government’s effort.

It highlights a positive trend in leadership inclusion in certain institutions. Particularly in government science organisations like DST.

2. Vigyan Jyoti:

Vigyan Jyoti Programme was introduced to motivate meritorious girl students of Class 9-12 to pursue higher education and careers in STEM, particularly in the areas where women are underrepresented. Various year-round activities such as Science Camps, special lectures/classes, counseling of student-parents, and interaction with role models are a regular part of the program.

3. GATI :

Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions Scheme:

It aims to transform institutions for a more gender-sensitive approach and inclusiveness with the ultimate goal of improving gender equity in S&T.

4. KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing):

‘Women Scientist Scheme (WOS)’ under KIRAN provides career opportunities including fellowships to unemployed women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a career break, for pursuing research in frontier areas of science and engineering.

5. CURIE initiative of DST:

The ‘Consolidation of University Research through Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE)’ Programme of DST provides support for the development of research infrastructure in women's universities to encourage women’s participation in R&D activities.

6. SERB-POWER:

For women researchers interested in undertaking R&D activities, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) was formulated. SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) is a funding framework that is aimed at providing financial assistance through grants and fellowships, enabling women to pursue their STEM research projects.

7. BioCARe:

The Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (BioCARe), was also undertaken by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) as a step forward to encourage women scientists to take up biotechnology research.

8. WISE:

WISE – Women in Science Engineering from Rural Parts of India is an outreach initiative launched by IIT-Bombay to combat the skewed gender ratio in STEM courses.

The initiative aims to introduce STEM courses and includes a periodical mentorship structure through which student volunteers at IIT Bombay will follow up with the girls.

9. WEST:

Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST), a new I-STEM (Indian Science Technology and Engineering Facilities Map) initiative called ‘Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST)’ was launched in 2022.

The WEST program to empower women to contribute to the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.

Future potential of women in STEM and industrial automation

With the rise of AI, smart manufacturing, and Industry 4.0, the demand for skilled professionals in STEM and automation is skyrocketing. Women bring diverse perspectives, problem-solving abilities, and innovative thinking, making them valuable assets in this era of digital transformation.

To bridge the gap, the future focus should be on:

✅ Encouraging STEM education through scholarships and awareness starting from primary education.

✅ Stronger mentorship and networking programs for women in industry.

✅ Workplace inclusivity with leadership development for women in automation.

✅ More women-led industrial automation startups and tech innovations.

Leading organisations in India with Women in Technology leadership

Several Indian organisations are championing women leadership in STEM and industrial automation, including:

• Infosys – Salil Parekh-led company with strong DEI initiatives for women in tech
• TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) – Encouraging women’s participation in AI & automation.
• Biocon – Led by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a pioneer in biotech.
• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) – Several women scientists leading space missions.
• L&T Technology Services – Actively promoting women in core engineering & automation.
• Siemens India – Strong leadership roles for women in industrial automation.

Conclusion

The journey is challenging, but women in STEM are breaking barriers, redefining leadership, and shaping the future of industrial automation. Let’s support and amplify their contributions to build a more innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven world!

Darshana Thakkar is an MSME Transformation specialist and Founder of Transformation – The Strategy HUB. With an Electrical engineering and MBA in business operations background, she has 28 years of hardcore industrial experience in transforming Small businesses. She helps MSMEs define growth paths, derive marketing strategies, improve business operations, adopt digital Transformation, and increase profitability.Darshana Thakkar is an author, speaker, and TV panelist. Her achievements, journey, and interviews have been featured in several newspapers, Premium business magazines, and TV.

She has won several regional, national, and international awards and is famous as an MSME activist and women's business leader. Her consulting venture, Transformation, was listed among the most trusted consulting companies in 2022 and among the top 50 consulting companies for MSME in 2023. She holds a few honorary positions in industry associations.

Major achievements:

• Winner of Global Women Leader -2023 by Global Women Leadership Award
• MSME Honor award-2022 -Champion of Cause by Tally Solutions
• Winner of Gujarat Women's Leader Award – 2021

She is associated with a few other premier institutes as

• Certified Women Director & Independent Director by IICA, MCA, GoI.
• Member of the Board of Management at Makarpura GIDC Industrial Estate Cooperative Bank Ltd.
• National President: WICCI-Entrepreneurship Development Council
• Trainer, Startup mentor, & Jury member at CED, Government of Gujarat.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshanamthakkar/

[email protected]