January 2025

The State of Women in the Israeli Space Ecosystem: data, global comparisons and insights

A pioneering study initiated and funded by The Parasol Foundation Women in Space Research programme shows that there is still work to be done so that women can have fulfilling careers in the space industry. Our research shows the gender gap begins as early as high school. The report offers practical steps to increase opportunities for women at all career stages. Women belong in the space sector.

New Research by SpaceIL and The Parasol Foundation Reveals:

Women remain a minority in the Israeli Space Industry – Recommendations for improving gender representation

Fewer than 25% of space industry employees are women, with fewer than 10% in engineering roles.
Less than 10% of employees in engineering roles are women.
Only 2 out of 49 Israeli Startup CEOs in the space field are women.
32% of students in space-related fields are women, and their numbers have increased by 54% over the past 5 years.
The gender gap in the space sector originates at a young age, due to the lower selection of STEM fields.

As one of the world’s leaders in space exploration, is Israel successfully integrating women equally into this advanced sector?

A new research report by SpaceIL and The Parasol Foundation, led by Inbal Orpaz and Avi Blasberger, explored the representation of women in Israel’s space industry in comparison with global trends, aiming to provide a current overview. This pioneering study (The State of Women in the Israeli Space Ecosystem) offers a comprehensive analysis of women's representation in the commercial space industry. The research identifies critical points where female participation drops off and offers recommendations to increase women's representation in this important industry.

The research reveals that women are still underrepresented in the space field mirroring trends seen across the broader high-tech industry. Women make up less than 25% of the space workforce in Israel, with just 9% in engineering roles at small to medium businesses, and slightly rising to 12% in larger companies. In non-technical positions, female representation is higher, with an average of 25% in corporate companies. Among small companies, the average of women in non-technical roles increases to 36%, though the small sample size leads to significant variation between companies.

Senior management roles are predominantly occupied by men, with women making up only about 10% of management positions in space companies. Some companies have no women in management roles at all.

Additionally, an analysis of Israeli space startups shows that out of 49 space-related startups founded between 2004 and 2023, only 8 have a female co-founder, representing 16% of the total. Of the 99 founders across these companies, 8 are women, meaning just 8% of the space sector is led by female entrepreneurs. This is slightly lower than the rate of female entrepreneurship in Israel's tech startup sector. Furthermore, only 2 out of 49 CEOs are women, accounting for just 4% of the total.

The gender gap starts early

The data reveals that while girls make up more than half of students taking five-unit matriculation exams, their representation is significantly lower in physics (40.5%) and computer science (35.9%). Although there is gender balance in math and English, girls dominate in subjects like biology and chemistry. These disparities in key subjects linked to the space industry, such as physics and computer science, begin in high school and contribute to the gender gap in the field.

According to data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), only 30% of high school girls eligible for a STEM-related matriculation certificate go on to pursue STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), compared to 48% of boys. Among those who are not eligible for a STEM matriculation certificate, only 5% of women choose to study these fields at university, compared to 13% of men. This illustrates how academic choices in middle and high school shape future educational and career paths.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, women represented 31.6% of students in space-related fields, with a total of 9,733 female students. This marks a 54% increase from five years prior. However, despite this growth, women’s representation only rose modestly, from 27.7% in 2016-2017 to 31.6% in 2021-2022. This limited increase is due to the concurrent rise in the number of male students.

A Global Issue

The gender gap in Israel’s space ecosystem mirrors global trends, with similar challenges faced worldwide. According to 2021 United Nations data, women represent only 20-22% of the global space industry workforce, a figure that has remained unchanged for the past three decades. This points to the slow progress in improving female representation in the field over the last 30 years

How Can Parents, Educators, and Policymakers Make a Difference?

To reduce gender gaps in Israel’s space ecosystem, the study recommends the following:

Encourage girls to pursue STEM subjects: Expose girls to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) before they choose their high school majors by expanding educational programs related to space and emphasising the roles of parents and teachers.
Raise awareness of career opportunities: Promote space career opportunities for women by showcasing successful female role models and implementing awareness campaigns in schools and universities.
Promote gender diversity in companies: Introduce internal training programs, set gender diversity targets, and establish flexible policies to support women, especially in leadership roles.
Develop a national gender diversity policy: Establish a national policy focusing on education, awareness, and transparency, learning from successful initiatives in other countries.
Active monitoring and reporting: Continuously track and publicly report on the representation of women in the space sector to ensure accountability and progress.

Why does this report matter? Because diversity drives innovation! By understanding where the gaps lie, we can work together to empower women and girls to reach for the stars.

Shimon Sarid, CEO of SpaceIL: " Together with The Parasol Foundation, we are making strides to leave a significant footprint for women in the space field and encourage the next generation of women to pursue careers in Israel’s space programs. Two years ago, we recruited female engineering graduates to participate in the development of the Beresheet2 spacecraft, and we awarded research scholarships for advanced degrees in space. This research is another important step in our shared vision. Additionally, this year we launched a unique educational program that offers middle and high school students experiential access to space engineering. We believe that by offering diverse learning experiences, we can inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to think big, innovate, and reach for the stars.”

Ruth Monicka Parasol, Principal Benefactress, The Parasol Foundation Trust: “This report shows that there is still work to be done to remove the barriers so that more women can have fulfilling careers in the space industry. Thirty years without major change is too long. We are proud of the growing band of talented women we have supported around the world to study STEM subjects. But it needs everyone to take on the recommendations in this report so that there are more opportunities at every stage; women belong in the space sector”.

Inbal Orpaz, founder of the Woman in Tech initiative and researcher: Achieving gender equality in the Israeli space ecosystem begins with encouraging more girls and young women to pursue science and technology studies. To make this a reality, it's crucial to engage their entire environment - educators, parents, and everyone who plays a role in shaping their choices. But we don’t need to wait for future generations - space companies today can and should lead the way by recruiting more women, ensuring they move up the management ladder, and creating inclusive workplaces that promote equality. The journey to space begins in the classroom, but it extends far beyond."

Avi Blasberger , former Director of the Israel Space Agency and VP of Visual Intelligence at Elbit Electro-Optical Systems: " Integrating women into high-tech fields, especially within the space sector, holds significant importance. The key lies in encouragement, which must start at a young age and continue at every stage of their journey. This support requires creating attractive, supportive environments - a necessity in high-tech broadly and especially in space. Encouragement shouldn't only target young girls, teens, and graduates but also reach educators and corporate leaders to foster an inclusive environment that actively promotes the integration and advancement of women in the space industry.”

SpaceIL: SpaceIL is a non-profit organization that aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers by executing highly challenging mission in deep space. In April 2019, SpaceIL launched Beresheet1, the first privately funded Israeli spacecraft to reach the moon, making Israel the fourth country to attempt a lunar landing and the seventh to enter lunar orbit. SpaceIL is currently working on the Beresheet2 mission, with a planned launch in 2027.

The Parasol Foundation:

The Parasol Foundation, created in 2004,based in Gibraltar has funded over £40m worth of projects and partnerships in Gibraltar, UK, Spain, Israel and the US.
Ruth Monicka Parasol is the principal benefactress of The Parasol Foundation Trust. A tech pioneer and entrepreneur, she is passionate about widening opportunities, supporting women’s health and helping women achieve their potential in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

For more information

SpaceIL - Report on Gender
Full Study - Download