The journey of RE-FEM has reached a milestone with the release of the Final Policy Study. Presented for the first time at the project’s closing Multiplier Event in Seville, this publication — now available on the project website — invites all readers to explore the knowledge, experiences, and best practices that shaped three years of work dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in the post-COVID world.
Developed by the RE-FEM consortium, which brings together eight partners from seven European countries, the study provides a comprehensive and comparative overview of the state of women’s entrepreneurship (WE) across Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain. It examines the specific challenges and opportunities faced by women entrepreneurs in these countries, revealing both shared trends and unique national characteristics.
Drawing from this cross-country analysis, the study finds that the women entrepreneurs across partner countries are highly educated and actively engaged in their profession, yet remain underrepresented in high-growth and technology-intensive sectors. Most women-led businesses are concentrated in services such as education, healthcare, and retail. Factors like independence, flexibility, and financial security strongly encourage entrepreneurship, while limited access to finance, confidence gaps, and difficulties regarding work-life balance remain major barriers. For example, women represent 44% of business leaders in Hungary, 35% of entrepreneurs in Romania, and around 33% in Finland — but in nearly all countries, they manage smaller, lower-profit enterprises than men. Digitalisation also emerged as a key challenge: although digital tools were widely adopted during COVID-19, rural and older women entrepreneurs continue to lag in comparison with their urban peers.
The study highlights promising national initiatives such as Bulgaria’s “Smart Lady” financial programme, Finland’s Inspiring WEs mentorship network, Hungary’s Dobbantó training series, and Spain’s digitalisation and mentoring programmes for women entrepreneurs, particularly in Andalusia. At the same time, this cross-country policy analysis points to structural barriers that require coordinated responses. These include the need for improved access to finance, family policies that support gender equality and tax policies, and stronger entrepreneurial education for women at all ages. Based on participatory consultations, including the national World Café discussions organised in each partner country, the RE-FEM consortium formulated actionable recommendations, which focus on gender equality into entrepreneurship policies, promoting women’s visibility in innovation sectors, and creating sustainable mentoring and funding networks across Europe.
The study demonstrates that women entrepreneurs across Europe represent a strong yet underutilised resource for sustainable growth and innovation. Although the pandemic revealed their exceptional adaptability and creativity, systemic challenges — such as unequal access to funding, persistent gender stereotypes, and insufficient support for work–life balance — continue to limit their full potential. RE-FEM’s comparative research underlines the importance of evidence-based policymaking and the need to integrate women’s entrepreneurship into broader economic and social strategies. By strengthening entrepreneurial education, expanding digital and financial inclusion, and enhancing women’s visibility in leadership, countries can unlock significant untapped potential in their economies.
Looking ahead, the study outlines a clear vision for the future: a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment in Europe. It calls for mainstreaming gender equality into entrepreneurship, education, and innovation policies, ensuring that women’s perspectives are embedded in national and EU-level strategies. To achieve this, governments and institutions ought to develop targeted financial mechanisms, mentorship networks, and lifelong learning pathways for women of all ages and backgrounds, with a special focus on those in rural or vulnerable situations. Promoting female role models, supporting work–life balance, and challenging traditional gender narratives in business remain essential to building a more equitable and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape.
Executive Summaries and One-Pager briefing documents of the Study will soon be available in all seven partner languages, providing readers with an overview of how the RE-FEM Final Policy Study’s insights and recommendations pave the way for a more inclusive and resilient future for women entrepreneurs across Europe. Those wishing to access the full Study may find it under the “Results” section on our website, or directly by clicking here.