Ada Scotland Festival Wins IE’s 2026 Minerva Informatics Equality Award
Published: 28 October 2026
The Ada Scotland Festival has won the 2026 Minerva Informatics Equality Award.
Bringing together schools, colleges, universities and employers to advance gender equality in Informatics, the Ada Scotland Festival has won the 2026 Minerva Informatics Equality Award.
Since its launch in 2020, the Ada Scotland Festival has grown into a registered charity with a sustained national programme. In 2025 alone, it ran 24 events across Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands, reaching more than 2,000 participants. Nearly half came from Scotland’s most deprived communities, helping to address the urban–rural digital divide. The Festival receives a €5,000 prize from the Minerva Award in recognition of its outstanding contribution to advancing gender equality in Informatics.
(l-r) Claire Johnston, Anna Doyle and Professor Matthew Barr
Professor Matthew Barr of the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science is the director of the Ada Festival. He said, “Receiving the Minerva Equality Award is a huge honour for the Ada Scotland Festival team. The Festival has grown year-on-year since it was founded in 2020, thanks in no small part to the efforts of our Festival Leads, Anna Doyle and Claire Johnstone. The prize money will help us grow still further, as we expand our national reach, both in terms of online activities and in-person events, to inspire and support women and girls in Informatics and Computing!”
Professor Ana Belén Gil González of the University of Salamanca, Spain, Chair of this year’s Award Committee and member of Informatics Europe’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, said: “This year's evaluation was exceptionally competitive, with outstanding initiatives from across Europe that reflect our community's deep commitment to closing the gender gap in Informatics. On behalf of the Award Committee, it is a great pleasure to recognise the Ada Scotland Festival as the winner of the 2026 Minerva Informatics Equality Award.”
The Committee assessed nominations against four weighted criteria: impact and reach; sustainability and synergies; replicability as a best practice for other European institutions; and originality and innovation. The Ada Scotland Festival stood out on all four.
The Festival’s charity governance and cross-sector model have also proved highly transferable, with the first Ada London Festival launching in 2026. This demonstrates how a coordinated initiative can grow beyond its home institution and serve as a model for other European institutions.
As the Award celebrates its 11th edition, Informatics Europe welcomes SAP as the new sponsor, strengthening its commitment to gender equality in Informatics. SAP representative Polina Galkin said, “For SAP, a broad and inclusive pipeline of future technology talent is essential. This starts with ensuring that women and girls are encouraged to engage with technology and see themselves as part of its future. By supporting the Award, SAP demonstrates its commitment to the academic community that prepares the next generations of students and researchers, helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and shape the future of informatics.”
First published: 28 October 2026