Neuquén scientific system reaches female majority in R&D

Women now constitute 53.3% of the 1,826 people working in research and development within Neuquén’s scientific-technological system, according to 2025 data from the Provincial Observatory of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

The survey, conducted by the Neuquén Agency for Innovation for Development (ANIDE), tracks personnel across universities, national science and technology agencies, public institutions, and research centers. While the data shows a consolidated female presence in a historically male-dominated field, officials note that challenges remain.

Joaquín Perren, Executive Secretary of ANIDE, stated that despite women being the majority in researcher roles and scholarship recipients, they remain a minority in high-level leadership and decision-making positions. He identified a “glass ceiling” often linked to historical penalties regarding caregiving duties that have limited women's advancement into management roles.