Ada Lovelace Day: Combatting the Gender Gap in Tech

Ada Lovelace Day: Combatting the Gender Gap in Tech

How do we combat the gender gap in the tech industries in Denmark? And how can companies and universities jointly find solutions enabling Denmark to catch up with the other Nordic countries? Join us this afternoon for inspirational talks, cases, debate and networking to celebrate Ada Lovelace Day. 

Why is this important? 

Today, far too few women in Scandinavia are pursuing educations and careers in tech and IT, and according to The Women in Tech Index, Denmark ranks lowest in Scandinavia in areas such as the number of women in IT positions and the tech wage gap between men and women. This creates several problems in a society where understanding digitisation and the ability to develop and use technology is becoming more and more crucial.  

We are and will become even more short of labour educated within STEM in the coming years. With the gender imbalance, the tech industry misses out on a large amount of potential and talent that can create great value for our society. 

Why should you participate? 

At this event, the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen (DIKU) have joined forces on the official date of the celebration of Ada Lovelace Day to inspire businesses, universities and organisation’s achievements towards more diversity in tech and join the discussion on the continuous efforts focusing on both the gender agenda, initiatives to push the agenda, and a wider focus on diversity in general. 

About Ada Lovelace Day 

Ada Lovelace (1815 - 1852), was a mathematician, inventor, translator, poet, engineer and is recognized as the world's first programmer. Ada Lovelace wrote the world's very first "computer program" for a machine that she, with mathematician and computer pioneer Charles Babbage, had devised. The Machine was called the analysis machine.  

On Ada Lovelace Day, which is held on the 2nd Tuesday in October, female pioneers and inventors within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are celebrated. 

Registration 

Register here. Deadline 8 October 2021.

Programme 

12.30 - 13.00 Arrival, networking, coffee
13.00 - 13.40 Opening remarks and introduction to the issue of gender imbalance in the tech industry
Rikke Hougaard Zeberg, CEO, DI Digital
Henrik Ernlund, Country Manager SAS Institute DK & Head of Nordic Sales Public Sector
Henrik will address why the gender imbalance is a major issue seen from a tech industry perspective and present the steps taken by SAS Institute to foster more female talent.
Jakob Grue Simonsen, Head of Department, DIKU
Jakob will present the current status on diversity at DIKU and in computer science in Denmark in general as well as introduce activities to strengthen diversity at DIKU.
13.40 - 14.40 Three nordic case presentations
Tieto Evry - Finland
The Finnish digital service and software company TietoEvry has a high priority on diversity issues and have among other initiatives gained success attracting female applicants by changing gendered content in their recruitment ads.
Hello World - Sweden
Swedish non-profit organization Hello World will share with us how partnering up with companies and encouraging and inspiring “computer-aided creativity” amongst kids and teenagers can create great shared value.
Nokia - Denmark
14.40 - 14.55 Break with coffee and cake
14.55 - 15.35 Research cases
Naja L. Holten Møller, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, DIKU
Claus Braband, IT University Copenhagen
15.35 - 15.55 Panel debate: How can the industry and universities collaborate in creating more diversity in tech?
  • Sahra-Josephine Hjort, Co-founder and CEO, CanopyLAB
  • Idunn Tara Asgrimsdottir, Software Development Project Manager, 3Shape
  • Naja L. Holten Møller, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, DIKU
  • Henrik Ernlund, Country Manager, SAS Institute DK & Head of Nordic Sales Public Sector
15.55 - 16.00 Seminar concludes
Rikke Hougaard Zeberg, CEO DI Digital
  Naja L. Holten Møller, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, DIKU