Our history
Published by Communication
Posted on April 07, 2025
WISE4ALL (Women for an Innovative Society in Europe) was born in 2015 as an informal network of women determined to rethink new cultural and social models through an intersectional approach. Reflecting on women’s agency in policymaking, they recognized a paradox: while women are often included in gender-related discussions, they remain underrepresented in decision-making and participatory societal processes. This selective inclusion ultimately leads to exclusion, and WISE4ALL sets out to change that.
The initiative began by connecting researchers, professionals, and experts working on European projects in four key areas: culture, health, innovation, and social justice. This collaboration led to the creation of the WISE4ALL Charter of Values, built on principles such as respect for independence and interdependence, ethics of responsibility, knowledge accessibility, spatial justice, diversity and inclusion, and health promotion. A pioneering scientific committee was formed, bringing together leading experts from universities, private organizations, NGOs and civil society organizations across Europe to create a multidisciplinary platform to deconstruct patriarchal unilateral thinking and to create alternatives by applying lateral thinking to creativity and innovation.
As the network expanded, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, establishing a shared commitment to learning from one another, collaborating on national and European projects, and providing expert insights on social and societal innovation to the European Commission.
Though it started as a small group, WISE4ALL had a clear vision: to create a network of solidarity, to bring together diverse voices, and to ensure that women’s perspectives shape innovative societal solutions. Through multidisciplinary approaches, roundtables, expert interviews, and institutional collaborations, WISE4ALL gained momentum.
In 2017, this phase culminated with the platform’s launch at the European Parliament. The event, “A New Inclusive and Open Society: Women’s Contribution to Innovation”, was organized in collaboration with MEP Pina Picierno and supported by the S&D Group. It introduced WISE4ALL’s values, mission, and network. Following the event, a letter was sent to Commissioners Carlos Moedas (Research, Science, and Innovation) and Věra Jourová (Justice, Consumers, and Gender Equality), further establishing WISE4ALL as an advocate for change.
In 2018, WISE4ALL played a key role in shaping the conversation on the future of work by participating in the Open Roundtable on the Future of Work, organized by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE). That same year, WISE4ALL supported MEP Pina Picierno in presenting the report “Measures to Prevent and Combat Mobbing and Sexual Harassment at Work, in Public Spaces, and Political Life in the EU” to the European Parliament. The initiative received a positive vote, marking a step forward toward an EU Directive against mobbing.
In 2020, WISE4ALL launched WISE4Challenges, a European-funded project led by S-Com in collaboration with Women Entrepreneurship Platform (Belgium), the University of Pisa (Italy), INCOMA (Spain), and LIBERA (Italy). Running from February 2021 to April 2022, the project made a significant impact across Europe, addressing key areas such as the Green Deal, education and culture, gender, health, social rights, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It spanned 20 countries, engaged over 700 participants, and hosted more than 20 online events, including debates, seminars, and focus groups, with multilingual interpretation. The initiative involved Members of the European Parliament, conducted five surveys with over 700 responses, and reached a broad audience, with over 200,000 website views and a growing social media presence.
The project led to the publication of a comprehensive research report presented by the Women Entrepreneurship Platform to Copa Women’s Committee, along with two toolkits: “GENDERIS4ALL – How to Raise Awareness on Gender Equality” by LIBERA and “Gender and Medicine: The Importance of a Gender Perspective in Medical Practice to Promote Health Systems” by the University of Pisa.
Following the success of WISE4Challenges, together with S-Com, WISE4ALL became a partner of the New European Bauhaus to shape inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the values outlined in the WISE4ALL Charter. To bring this vision to life, in 2022, WISE4ALL deepened its exploration of spatial justice through a series of meetings titled Spatial Justice Dialogues, featuring expert interviews and discussions on how spatial dimensions relate to justice and equity. These discussions explored the intersection of architecture, urban planning, digital technologies, and cultural heritage to propose innovative solutions.
Between 2023 and 2024, WISE4ALL took a year to develop new strategies and initiatives. As we looked back on a decade of impact, we realized that the core themes we championed remain as relevant as ever—though the challenges have evolved, and new perspectives are needed.
With this renewed awareness, WISE4ALL stands at the threshold of a new era. More committed than ever, we continue to influence policy, drive innovation, and ensure that women’s voices are not only heard but play a central role in shaping Europe’s future. As we look ahead, we recognize the need to evolve and solidify our impact.
About the Author
