Diversity highlighted as key to industrial competitiveness
Gender equality and diversity are not side issues—they are central to the industry’s transition to net zero. This was one of the main messages when Net Zero Industry brought together policymakers and business leaders for a seminar on skills, innovation, and competitiveness.
How do we secure the supply of skills in a time of rapid industrial transformation? And what role do gender equality and diversity play in strengthening innovation capacity and competitiveness?
These were the key questions when Net Zero Industry hosted a lunch seminar where representatives from politics and industry met to discuss the future of manufacturing.
– Gender equality is good business and something I work on every day. At a time marked by geopolitical uncertainty, climate challenges, and an increasingly intense innovation race in Europe, it is crucial that we make full use of the available talent, said Nina Larsson, Minister for Gender Equality.
During the discussion, the link between broader recruitment and increased innovation capacity was highlighted, as well as the significant shortage of engineers and the need for more young people—both boys and girls—to pursue STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
– We need more people choosing STEM—it is critical for our innovation capacity and for managing the green and digital transition. When more perspectives are included, both creativity and competitiveness are strengthened, said Pia Sandvik, CEO of Teknikföretagen.
Several speakers emphasized that diversity can no longer be treated as a peripheral issue, but must be integrated into companies’ core strategic work.
– We have succeeded because, over many years, we have set clear goals and worked strategically—both at the executive level and across the entire organization. Our internal networks—the Glow leadership network for women and our inclusion and diversity board—help us maintain focus and support management in this work. For us, this is about fairness, but also about competitiveness. By broadening our talent pool and embracing diverse perspectives and backgrounds, we strengthen our innovation capacity and overall performance, said Gunnar Wik, CEO of Siemens Energy.
The seminar pointed to a clear shift: from viewing gender equality and diversity as HR issues to recognizing them as strategic priorities for innovation, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
Net Zero Industry works to strengthen the conditions for the industry’s transition to net zero, where access to skills is one of the key building blocks.
Weren’t you able to attend in person? You can watch the seminar afterwards here (in swedish):