Research4Life helps close gender gap in research

A new paper conducted by leading researchers from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has explored whether improved digital access to scientific knowledge help close the gender gap in research participation.

This study builds on earlier findings that showed how much digital access can boost research, and now it reveals something even more specific: online access to research significantly increases how much women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) contribute to scientific publishing.

The study, centred on Research4Life, reveals that expanding access to scientific literature significantly increases LMIC women’s participation and impact in academic publishing. Specifically, free or low-cost access to scientific publications, as provided by Research4Life, is associated with 3 to 30% rise in the number of publications with at least one woman author and a 2 to 9% increase in the share of women authors.

‘Better access to knowledge empowers women scientists to gradually improve their own career prospects by producing more and higher quality research […] it’s encouraging to see how more equal opportunities in resource access are really a game changer,’ said Alexander Cuntz, Head of the Creative Economy Section at WIPO, and Alessio Muscarnera, co-author and economist in the same section at WIPO’s Department of Economics & Data Analytics, Innovation Ecosystems Sector.

This new WIPO research paper pulled data from over 600 institutions across 80 countries and focused on the Hinari collection of Research4Life, which is managed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The goal was to assess the impact of this program on several aspects of gender balance in academia. It offers compelling evidence that research access is a key driver of gender inclusion in science.

Another important finding from the study is that Research4Life impact is not the same everywhere. The benefits are strongest in countries with lower gender equality in educational attainment. In these places, access to scientific journals through Research4Life helps more women participate in research. It shows that access matters most where the systemic barriers are highest, acting as a catalyst for inclusion.

“This WIPO study provides compelling evidence that Research4Life is making a real difference,” says Tandi Lwoga, Professor and Rector at the College of Business Education, Tanzania, and Vice Chair of the Research4Life Executive Council. “It builds on findings from last year, which showed its programs increased research output by as much as 75%. These new findings will be a major topic at an ‘Action for Equity’ conference, taking place in Oxford this July, where the one of paper’s authors will share more details.”

The study calls for expanded investment in digital access infrastructure and training to fully realise the benefits of inclusion. It also highlights the importance of sustained support and monitoring to track long-term outcomes.

The full report, detailing the study’s methodology and findings, can be accessed at this link.