A Fund to promote gender equality in scientific and academic careers.
Created in 2024 by Monique Coppieters within the Foundation for Future Generations, the Sakura Fund for Future Generations aims to promote gender equality in scientific and academic careers.
I was deeply moved by a recent documentary showing that significant differences in the way girls and boys are educated still persist today. These differences can have a considerable negative impact on girls from a very young age.
I had the opportunity to lead SOPURA, an innovative Belgian company that designs, manufactures and markets cleaning and disinfection products and water treatment solutions for the brewing, beverage and food industries - now part of the Kersia Group. It was therefore very important to me to help ensure that all women have the same opportunities as men to fulfil their potential.
The challenge is, of course, extremely broad. After discussions with the team at the Foundation for Future Generations, we decided to focus on gender equality in scientific and academic careers. Although progress has been made in recent decades, there is still a great deal to be done. We are convinced that the Sakura Fund for Future Generations can make a real impact in this area.
Monique Coppieters
Founder of the Sakura Fund for Future Generations
The Fund’s activities
The Sakura Fund for Future Generations aims to promote gender equality in scientific and academic careers through a call for projects.
The Sakura call for projects provides financial support to initiatives based in Belgium that aim to significantly increase the number of women who successfully - and with greater confidence and peace of mind - make the transition from the start of a PhD to establishing a long-term academic career.
The supported initiatives must also go beyond providing individual support to women and address genuine levers for structural change.
The support provided by the Sakura Fund for Future Generations includes financial assistance, networking opportunities, promotion and greater visibility for the selected projects.
Fund Type and Management Committee
The Sakura Fund is a flow-through fund hosted by the Foundation for Future Generations.
The Management Committee is composed of:
- Monique Coppieters, Founder and Chair
- Benoît Derenne, Director of the Foundation for Future Generations