Entain : Foundation Partners with Berlin University of Technology and the Nexus Institute to enhance diversity in R&D

6 September 2021

Entain Foundation Partners with Berlin University of Technology and the Nexus Institute to enhance diversity in R&D

• The Entain Foundation is supporting the development of an international executive training programme to enhance Gendered Innovations under the auspices of TU Berlin and the Nexus Institute.
• By supporting the globally-recognised concept ofGendered Innovations developed by the renowned Professor Londa Schiebinger from Stanford University, the Entain Foundation aims to encourage consideration of gender perspectives in innovation and research.
• Like the European Commission, which has already funded two projects on this topic, the Entain Foundation sees great potential for gender equality in research and development by strengthening the concept.

This week, the Entain Foundation, a charitable trust set up by bwin's parent company Entain, has announced a new collaboration with TU Berlin (Berlin University of Technology, a centre of excellence) and the Nexus Institute for Cooperation Management and Interdisciplinary Research.

A team led by Professor Hans-Liudger Dienel (head of the Department of Work, Technology and Participation at the Institute for Vocational Education and Work Education at Berlin University of Technology, and also director of the Nexus institute) is developing a short-term executive training programme to promote Gendered Innovations. The project with TU Berlin and the Nexus Institute joins the list of internationally significant initiatives around increasing opportunities for more diversity in R&D and technology' launched by the Entain Foundation.

Historically, the impact of gender perspectives in the R&D processes have not always been fully considered, leading to products, services and measures that are typically designed from a male perspective which fail to account the usage needs specific to females. This can lead to experiences that are sub-optimal for women and girls. In response to this, a large international research consortium led by Stanford University and funded by the European Commission developed the concept of Gendered Innovations.

Gendered Innovations employs methods of sex, gender and intersectional analysis to create new knowledge in medicine, engineering, and information and communication technology (ICT). The concept has garnered attention in recent academic discourse and is now being supported by numerous case studies (e.g. Gender Bias in AI). However, there has not been a set curriculum for teaching Gendered Innovations at university or on online courses for industry representatives - until now.

The executive programme developed by TU Berlin and the Nexus Institute aims to close this gap. It is aimed at innovation managers, founders and start-ups as well as R&D personnel in the private sector, higher education and research organisations. Consisting of seven modules, the course combines theoretical teaching with practical tips for implementation in participants' own organisations.

In the first four modules, participants learn about the theoretical background as well as ways to connect it to their own organisational setting. In the second part, participants develop their own project ideas and apply their knowledge to the practical sphere. The course ends with a pitching session, in which participants present and discuss their ideas.

It also provides inspiration and background information, enabling participants to push for Gendered Innovations in their own workplaces. In addition to the training programme, next year an interactive map for geocoded Gendered Innovations is to be developed, on which companies can present relevant projects. A special website provides introductory information on both the programme and the topic of Gendered Innovations. The course is taught in English.

Prof Schraudner and Dr Elizabeth Pollitzer are the first two members of the executive programme's advisory board. Prof Schraudner heads the Fraunhofer Center for Responsible Research and Innovation as well as the Department of Gender and Diversity in Technology and Product Development at TU Berlin; since 2018, she's also been Member of the Management Board of acatech, Germany's National Academy of Science and Engineering. Dr Elizabeth Pollitzer is the director of the London-based not-for-profit organisation Portia Ltd, which was founded in 2001 by a group of women scientists at Imperial College London to advance understanding of gender issues in science and organisational practices. Dr Pollitzer is also the founder of the Gender Summit.

Franziska van Almsick, Ambassador of the Entain Foundation, said about the project: '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. 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.'

Professor Hans-Liudger Dienel, head of the Department of Work Education, Technology and Participation at the Institute for Vocational Education and Work Education at TU Berlin said: '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.'

Entain launched its Global Foundation in 2019 to support and coordinate the Group's ESG initiatives and donations around the world. The Foundation has committed £100m for investment into projects in the following areas:

• Responsible gambling, sports integrity and betting and gambling regulation research, education and treatment;
• Grass roots, women's and disability sport;
• Diversity in Technology; and
• Projects with a clear link to the local community in Entain's major office locations.

Together with German Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and 1.FC Koeln, and the sports integrity platform, the Play Fair Code, the Entain Foundation launched the German Sports Integrity Forum in 2019. The aim of the Forum is to raise further awareness of sports integrity programmes in Germany and other German speaking countries.

Media Enquiries Germany Hartmut Schultz Kommunikation GmbH Hartmut Schulz	[e-mail] [phone]
International Enquiries	[e-mail]
Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press Office Tessa Curtis, Head of Media Relations	[e-mail]

Notes to Editors

The Entain Foundation supports a variety of good causes, including:

• Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health alliance, Harvard Medical School
  Entain is investing $5.5 million in a 5-year, research project with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. The objective of the project is to better increase our understanding problem gambling, and thereby find ways to prevent its development where possible and find more effective approaches to treatment.

• Girls Who Code, an international non-profit organisation working to close the gender gap in technology to support its global programmes to bring young women into the technology industry, most notably in the UK, US, Canada and India. Entain is proud to be one of Girls Who Codes' most significant global partners.

• Tech Girls Movement Foundation Australia, which challenges gender perceptions that limit girls' participation in STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics) through community and industry collaborations, providing mentorship by women who already have successful technology careers to young women looking for guidance on career choices.

• Pitching In grassroots sport investment fund
  Pitching In launched at a time when football clubs and sporting organisations are facing the unprecedented impact on their finances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched in September 2020 the multi-million-pound, multi-year, investment programme kicked-off with a flagship partnership with The Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues - collectively known as The Trident Leagues - which make-up levels seven and eight of the English football league pyramid.

• SportsAid
  Through our multi-year strategic partnership with SportsAid, the charity which supports aspiring athletes, and part of our Pitching In investment programme, Entain provides British athletes with financial support, recognition and personal development opportunities. Each athlete receives an annual award which contributes towards costs such as travel, accommodation and equipment. Through the partnership, Entain is helping 50 up-and-coming sports stars across the country each year.

• Inter Milan Football Club - promoting participation in women's football
  The Entain Foundation has launched a collaboration with Inter Milan Football Club to promote participation in women's football in Italy. Backed by a national media campaign, partnered with Gazzetta dello Sport, the project is developing a football-related talent show for aspiring female footballers.

• US Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering
  The Foundation has become a Bronze Donor to the Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering, which was recently launched by the US National Center for Responsible Gaming. The objective of this project, which is first of its kind in the US, is to competitively award researchers at top tier institutions with the resources needed to uncover novel insights into what the introduction of legalised, regulated sports betting means for public health.

• German Sports Integrity Forum
  Together with German Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and 1.FC Koeln, and the sports integrity platform, the Play Fair Code, the Entain Foundation recently launched the German Sports Integrity Forum. The aim of the Forum is to raise further awareness of sports integrity programmes in Germany and other German speaking countries.

• Professional Players Federation

The Foundation has entered into a partnership with the Professional Players Federation (the 'PPF'), the national organisation for the professional player associations in the UK, to fund its anti-match-fixing player education programmes. The partnership enables the PPF to support the development and delivery of online learning and face-to-face education to hundreds of sportspeople in sports such as football, cricket, rugby union, golf, darts and snooker

About the Entain Foundation
The Entain Foundation was established to coordinate and support Entain's ESG and CSR initiatives, objectives and donations around the world. The Foundation's efforts are focused on four key areas: Responsible gambling, sports integrity and gambling regulation research, education and treatment; Grass roots, women's and disability sport; diversity in technology; and Projects with a clear link to the local community in Entain's major office locations.

About Entain plc
Entain plc (LSE: ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Bet.pt, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, Ninja Casino, Optibet, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has a joint-venture with MGM Resorts creating a leader, BetMGM, in sports betting and iGaming in the US. Entain provides the technology which powers BetMGM and exclusive games and products, specially developed at its in-house gaming studios. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licenses in a total of 27 regulated markets. Entain is a leader in ESG, a member of FTSE4Good, the DJSI and is AA rated by MSCI. The Group has set an SBT, committing to be carbon net zero by 2035 and through the Entain Foundation supports a variety of initiatives, focusing on safer gambling, grassroots sport, diversity in technology and community projects.

For more information see the Group's website: www.entaingroup.com