On 4 June 2026, Carina Dantas, CEO of SHINE 2Europe and partner in the HERA project, represented HERA at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Public Hearing SOC/831, titled “Reducing Barriers to Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Promoting Innovation and Providing Equal Opportunities for All.”
Held in Brussels, the hearing brought together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and representatives of European organisations to discuss how inclusive entrepreneurship can be strengthened across Europe and how barriers affecting underrepresented groups can be reduced.
The event featured a distinguished panel of speakers from the European Commission, academia, business associations, and civil society organisations.
Carina Dantas participated in the second panel, which explored initiatives and experiences from across Europe, highlighting successful practices, remaining challenges, and recommendations for future policies. During the session, she presented the work and objectives of the HERA project, alongside other initiatives.
HERA was presented as a good practice example of how European projects can contribute to more inclusive entrepreneurship by empowering women, supporting innovation, and creating opportunities for participation and growth. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaborative approaches and targeted support mechanisms to address inequalities and strengthen the role of women entrepreneurs across Europe.
The participation of SHINE 2Europe in this high-level European dialogue provided an important opportunity to share HERA’s achievements, exchange knowledge with key stakeholders, and contribute to discussions shaping future policies and initiatives for inclusive entrepreneurship.
