Entain Foundation Announced New Diversity-Promoting Initiative

The Entain Foundation, the charitable trust established by UK-based gambling group Entain, announced a new initiative in collaboration with Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin) and the Nexus Institute for Cooperation Management and Interdisciplinary Research.

Collaborative Effort

The new initiative, Gendered Innovations, involves the development of a short-term executive training program that will promote innovative ways to apply science and address differences in the needs of males and females. A team led by Nexus Institute director Professor Hans-Liudger Dienel was tasked to come up with the program that is part of Entain Foundation’s efforts for more diversity in R&D and technology.

The gender perspective, like the diversity perspective, is an eye-opener for new, innovative products and services. We intend to convey this perspective in our executive programme.”

Prof. Hans-Liudger Dienel, Head, Department of Work Education, Technology and Participation, Institute for Vocational Education and Work Education, TU Berlin

The program considers that historically, leading products, services and measures are designed from a male perspective without taking into account needs that are specific to females, resulting in sub-optimal experiences for women and girls.

Some products and services on the market were developed from a male perspective and can have negative consequences for women when using such products. For example, facial recognition technologies trained with biased datasets may be worse at recognising women than men.”

Franziska van Almsick, Ambassador, Entain Foundation

To address these shortcomings, a large research consortium led by Stanford University was backed financially by the European Commission to develop the new concept that combines intersectional analysis to create new knowledge in medicine, engineering, and information and communication technology (ICT).

The Program

The Gendered Innovations, program consisting of seven modules, is suitable for managers, founders and R&D personnel from the private sector, education and research organizations, and will provide them with theoretical teachings and practical tips for implementation.

I’m delighted that the Entain Foundation is addressing this important issue, and I’m very impressed by its dedication to promoting diversity in the technology sector.”

Franziska van Almsick, Ambassador, Entain Foundation

The first four modules of the program deal with the theoretical background and address possible ways to relate to organizational settings, while in the second part of the course, participants are asked to come up with their own ideas by applying into practice what they have already learned. The end of the program comprises a pitching session giving participants the option to present and discuss their ideas.

In March, Entain released its latest gender pay gap report, revealing the company’s diversity efforts helped lower down pay gaps across the board.