D 6.3 Research paper on gendered practices in grant allocation processes

This GRANteD deliverable 6.3 is a draft research paper in WP6 to be published later as scientific paper. D6.3 builds on core findings from D6.1 on assessment practices in peer review panels and aims to link them to the discourse of reforming research assessment. This paper aims to advance our knowledge of research funding organisations (RFOs) as promotors for change by analysing how innovative gender equality policies that RFOs have adopted to mitigate gender bias have been implemented in practice in peer review panels. The paper focuses specifically on three innovative policies which each address one approach to gender equality, namely fixing the numbers, fixing the organisation and fixing the knowledge. Based on qualitative research data from interviews and observations in the Horizon2020 project GRANteD, we have gained valuable insights into general implementation practices, gender-related risks, support factors and encountered problems when implementing the three policies. These findings may also be relevant for ongoing activities to reform the research assessment process with the objective of enhancing inclusivity; notable examples include the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). We have identified some conclusions about adapting the assessment process, such as having a clear policy concept with appropriate assessment indicators available when implementing a new policy or strengthening the role of chairs, or the need for reformation of the way in which innovative policies are communicated and how capacities are built along the new policy requests.