A new study from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has found that digital access to scientific content significantly increases research participation by women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Focused on the Research4Life platform, the study revealed that access to scientific literature is associated with a 3–30% increase in publications with at least one woman author, and a 2–9% rise in the share of women authors.
The study analyzed data from over 600 institutions across 80 countries, using the Hinari collection managed by the World Health Organization. Findings indicated that improved access to research resources contributes to stronger representation of women in academic publishing. The effects were most pronounced in regions where educational gender gaps are highest, suggesting that access mitigates structural barriers and enhances research equity.
Research4Life is a public-private initiative supported by UN agencies and global partners that offers free or low-cost access to research publications. The WIPO study adds to existing evidence of Research4Life’s impact, including a 75% increase in research output identified in a previous assessment.
The report encourages further investment in digital infrastructure and training, particularly in underserved regions, to sustain inclusion and expand the long-term benefits of research access. It also recommends continued monitoring of gender outcomes tied to open access initiatives.
The findings will be discussed at Research4Life’s upcoming ‘Action for Equity’ conference in Oxford this July. A full version of the study is publicly available on WIPO’s website.
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