The issues of women in science, and gender in research, have been attracting interest in both Europe and North America for some years. However, the ways of tackling the problems of the shortage of women scientists, the lack of women at the top in research, and the frequent overlooking of the role of gender in research have not been the same. It has been said that Europe has used a top-down approach (legislation), whereas the bottom-up approach (institutional change) has been favored in North America. Knowing about these different approaches generates questions such as: Where is the situation better? In Europe or North America? What is being done in Europe? In North America? Is there something that we can learn from each other? The symposium looks at the various policies implemented and their effects on the situation of women in science. The topics include comparing and contrasting European and North American policies in the field of women in science, and analysis of the results of the national policies on women and science in selected European states (including the specific "women in science" policies existing in the Scandinavian countries and Germany). In addition, the European Union funds cooperative research by supporting multi-country research projects in certain predetermined fields.