Coined and developed by Professor Londa Schiebinger of Stanford University, Gendered Innovations is a groundbreaking approach that aims to drive innovation by incorporating sex and gender analysis into research and development processes.

The event will focus on answering the question “What is Gendered Innovations?” It will be divided into four parts: a lecture, a panel discussion, students’ presentations, and an introduction to the Intersectional Design Cards.

The first part of the event will feature a lecture that explores the concept of Gendered Innovations, with examples of research and development across diverse fields and an examination of the challenges and opportunities ahead. In the second part, researchers from Ochanomizu University will take part in a panel discussion exploring their works and the practical applications of Gendered Innovations. The third part will highlight presentations by Ochanomizu University students who participated in the course “Introduction to Gendered Innovations.” These students will propose ideas for new products and initiatives inspired by the Gendered Innovations framework. The fourth part will introduce the Intersectional Design Cards, which can be used in a workshop to help develop ideas based on Gendered Innovations.

This event will provide a unique opportunity to explore how a sex/gender conscious and intersectional approach to research and technology, empowered by Gendered Innovations, can contribute to a more inclusive society that celebrates individual differences and promotes well-being for all in the global community.

We invite you to join us for Gendered Innovations and discover how gender and intersectional perspectives can inspire new ideas and innovations!

【Reflection】
On Monday, August 4, we at the Institute for Gendered Innovations held the event “An Invitation to Gendered Innovations” at the Women's Pavilion “WA” Space. In addition to 50 members from the general public, 20 students and 13 faculty members from Ochanomizu University attended, bringing the total to 83 participants. The lively 120-minute session was filled with moments of laughter and surprise.

In the first session, Director Masako Ishii-Kuntz explained the concept and significance of Gendered Innovations (GI), along with examples from research and development. The GI perspective has been garnering attention not only in the field of academic research and development but also in practical fields. Drawing on her own experiences both as a researcher and as an ordinary person, she emphasized the importance of reflecting on daily life through the lens of GI.

In the second session, a panel discussion was held featuring Deputy Director Etsuko Saito, Professor Takayuki Itoh, and Associate Professor Mamiko Fujiyama. While the three researchers specialize in different fields—Family Resource Management, Visualization, and Urban and Architectural Design—they presented outcomes of their research undertaken from a GI perspective. These included expanding research methods and subjects, generating new ideas for products, experiences, and services, as well as considering social inclusion and social implementation. It was also noted that, by using GI perspective, researchers from diverse disciplines were able to come together to exchange ideas, leading to the identification of new research topics as well as the development of joint research projects and the organization of collaborative seminars.

In the third session, under the facilitation of Project Associate Professor Rika Takamaru, students who had completed the course “Introduction to Gendered Innovations” in the spring semester of the 2025 academic year presented their proposals for addressing social issues from a GI perspective. Specifically, the proposals included: (1) A set of motivational stickers designed to enhance self-affirmation, thereby encouraging women to speak up more in business settings; (2) A navigation application that takes into account women's feelings of insecurity toward spatial recognition, anxiety about driving, and movement patterns characterized by shorter, more frequent trips; (3) A men’s sunscreen that prevents skin aging and skin cancer while eliminating discomfort with cooling effects and fulfilling the desire for tanning; (4) Urban design that does not rely on the argument that women should bear responsibility for their own safety on the streets at night; (5) A household chores application aimed at reducing the disproportionate burden of housework on women by combining skill visualization, emotional sharing, and the joy of achievement; and (6) suggestions for reducing long queues at women's restrooms through measures such as increasing the number of women’s facilities and shortening individual usage time.

Finally, in the fourth session, an overview of the “Intersectional Design Cards,” translated by the Institute, together with an outline of the associated workshop, was presented by Research Administrator Kumi Yoshihara. The cards are designed to help generate products, experiences, and services that incorporate intersectional perspectives and support social justice and sustainability. They also serve as an educational resource to deepen understanding of diversity and inclusivity. While the workshop has a basic structure, it can be adapted to address specific issues. To date, the Institute has held workshops at industry academia exchange meetings and at local governments, earning acclaim for fostering a deeper understanding of the significance of GI.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The Institute for Gendered Innovations engages in building a society that enables diverse forms of well-being by integrating sex, gender, and intersectional analysis into research (gendered innovation).

In the 2025 academic year, we plan to publish a textbook Introduction to Gendered Innovations. This volume will provide foundational knowledge on GI and overview of the lecture “Introduction to Gendered Innovations,” which was developed through the collaborative efforts of Ochanomizu University, the University of Tokyo, and Tohoku University since the 2022 academic year. The publication will also include research and development case studies, as well as future issues and challenges that, due to time constraints, could not be fully discussed during the event. We invite you to read it.

In addition, to raise awareness of GI among a broader audience, we organize public events, lectures by the Director and Deputy Director of the Institute, and outreach lectures for high school students. For further information and inquiries, please visit our website (https://igi.cf.ocha.ac.jp/en/).