GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Biotech Industry Statistics

Biotech industry balances progress and challenges in embracing diversity and inclusion.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Ethnically underrepresented groups hold about 15% of biotech executive positions

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Researchers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups publish 35% fewer papers than their white counterparts

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Only 8% of biotech startup founders are from underrepresented backgrounds

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Only 12% of biotech leadership roles are held by people of color

Statistic 5

Minority scientists are 25% less likely to be included as authors in high-impact biotech research publications

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Only 10% of biotech venture capital funding is allocated to companies founded by women and minorities

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Asian scientists are underrepresented in leadership roles, comprising only 10% of biotech executives

Statistic 8

15% of biotech publications in high-impact journals include authors from underrepresented groups

Statistic 9

Minority-owned biotech startups receive about 3% of total industry funding

Statistic 10

There has been a 12% increase in hiring from diverse backgrounds in biotech over the past three years

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Proteins and therapies aimed at underserved populations are 30% underrepresented in biotech pipelines

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40% of new biotech hires in 2023 were from underrepresented ethnicities, showing progress in workforce diversification

Statistic 13

The racial diversity index for biotech companies is 0.45 on a scale where 1 represents complete diversity, indicating room for significant improvement

Statistic 14

The dropout rate of minority students in biotech-related STEM programs is 25% higher than their peers

Statistic 15

There is a 5% annual increase in the hiring of underrepresented minorities in biotech, indicating ongoing efforts toward greater inclusivity

Statistic 16

Approximately 25% of biotech academic research collaborations include partners from underrepresented groups, fostering greater diversity in research networks

Statistic 17

Only 15% of biotech patents filed between 2018-2023 list at least one inventor from an underrepresented background, indicating room for improvement

Statistic 18

The average salary gap between minority and non-minority biotech employees is approximately 12%, pointing to ongoing equity challenges

Statistic 19

60% of biotech hiring managers report that lack of diverse candidate pools is a significant obstacle, indicating ongoing recruitment challenges

Statistic 20

Only 11% of biotech marketing campaigns feature diverse representation, highlighting a gap in inclusive branding

Statistic 21

65% of biotech students from underrepresented groups drop out before completing their PhDs or advanced degrees, a significant barrier to leadership

Statistic 22

Minority women in biotech earn approximately 23% less than white women, emphasizing layered disparities

Statistic 23

The average tenure of minority scientists in biotech firms is 3.2 years shorter than their non-minority counterparts, pointing to retention issues

Statistic 24

Women in biotech earn about 17% less than their male counterparts

Statistic 25

Biotech industry workforce is approximately 40% female, compared to 54% in the overall healthcare sector

Statistic 26

In biotech, the representation of women in early-stage companies is higher than in established firms, at about 33%

Statistic 27

Less than 10% of biotech patents are filed by women inventors

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Women hold only 22% of biotech CEO positions worldwide

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30% of biotech R&D funding is allocated to projects led by women or minority scientists, showing growing commitment to inclusive research leadership

Statistic 30

The percentage of biotech patents annually filed by women remains under 10%, indicating gender-based patenting disparities

Statistic 31

72% of biotech industry employees believe that increasing DEI efforts would improve innovation

Statistic 32

Companies with more diverse executive teams see 19% higher innovation revenue

Statistic 33

48% of biotech employees believe that DEI initiatives positively impact innovation and productivity

Statistic 34

Being part of a diverse team increases the likelihood of biotech innovation success by 15%

Statistic 35

The proportion of biotech research funding dedicated to projects focused on rare and underserved populations increased by 18% over five years, reflecting DEI priorities

Statistic 36

Initiatives focusing on equitable access to biotech innovation have increased investment by 14% in underserved communities, supporting DEI-driven growth

Statistic 37

Women make up approximately 27% of R&D leadership roles in the biotech industry

Statistic 38

Only 20% of biotech corporate boards are women

Statistic 39

72% of biotech CEOs acknowledge the importance of DEI but only 45% have comprehensive strategies in place

Statistic 40

58% of biotech employees believe that leadership diversity correlates with better company performance

Statistic 41

Only 25% of biotech corporate boards have gender parity

Statistic 42

The percentage of women in biotech leadership roles has increased by 4% annually over the past five years

Statistic 43

Less than 20% of biotech leadership roles are occupied by persons with disabilities, highlighting an area for increased representation

Statistic 44

The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in biotech leadership is approximately 5%, indicating underrepresentation

Statistic 45

45% of biotech companies have implemented specific DEI initiatives

Statistic 46

About 60% of biotech firms have a dedicated diversity and inclusion officer or team

Statistic 47

68% of biotech employees feel that their company does not do enough to foster inclusivity

Statistic 48

55% of biotech companies report difficulty recruiting diverse talent

Statistic 49

80% of biotech organizations have set measurable goals for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion

Statistic 50

65% of biotech employees believe DEI initiatives are critical for company success

Statistic 51

The percentage of international employees in biotech companies is around 25%, promoting global diversity

Statistic 52

50% of biotech institutions have implemented unconscious bias training programs

Statistic 53

Companies with inclusive cultures have a 23% higher retention rate of diverse employees

Statistic 54

35% of biotech workers have experienced discrimination or bias in the workplace

Statistic 55

Training programs focused on cultural competence increased employee satisfaction scores by 18% in biotech firms

Statistic 56

54% of biotech organizations consider DEI a top strategic priority

Statistic 57

70% of biotech professionals support mandatory diversity training in the workplace

Statistic 58

Only 9% of biotech companies have comprehensive DEI policies that address intersectionality

Statistic 59

67% of biotech industry professionals agree that transparent DEI metrics are essential for progress

Statistic 60

The number of biotech companies with formal DEI policies increased by 22% in the past two years, demonstrating a trend toward institutional change

Statistic 61

55% of biotech employees support initiatives that promote gender parity and racial equity, according to recent surveys

Statistic 62

72% of biotech companies have implemented mentorship programs for underrepresented groups, aiming to improve inclusion and career advancement

Statistic 63

44% of biotech workforce diversity efforts include collaboration with community organizations to improve local talent pipelines

Statistic 64

70% of biotech companies believe that improving workforce diversity directly correlates with better patient outcomes

Statistic 65

Organizations with publicly available DEI reports saw a 30% faster increase in workforce diversity over three years, based on industry data

Statistic 66

50% of biotech industry leaders believe that mandatory DEI training should be part of onboarding processes for new hires

Statistic 67

Biotech industry membership in professional DEI organizations increased by 35% in the past year, demonstrating a rising commitment to inclusion

Statistic 68

80% of biotech bioscience companies have diversity policies, but only 40% actively monitor progress and outcomes, pointing to gaps in accountability

Statistic 69

A survey found that 62% of biotech employees from underrepresented groups do not feel fully included in decision-making processes, highlighting inclusion gaps

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 27% of R&D leadership roles in the biotech industry
Ethnically underrepresented groups hold about 15% of biotech executive positions
Only 20% of biotech corporate boards are women
45% of biotech companies have implemented specific DEI initiatives
Researchers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups publish 35% fewer papers than their white counterparts
Only 8% of biotech startup founders are from underrepresented backgrounds
Women in biotech earn about 17% less than their male counterparts
About 60% of biotech firms have a dedicated diversity and inclusion officer or team
72% of biotech industry employees believe that increasing DEI efforts would improve innovation
Biotech industry workforce is approximately 40% female, compared to 54% in the overall healthcare sector
Only 12% of biotech leadership roles are held by people of color
Companies with more diverse executive teams see 19% higher innovation revenue
Minority scientists are 25% less likely to be included as authors in high-impact biotech research publications

Despite promising signs of progress, the biotech industry still faces significant challenges in achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion, with only a fraction of leadership roles held by women and minorities, persistent pay and representation gaps, and a widespread call from employees for more comprehensive and accountable DEI initiatives.

Ethnic and Racial Representation

Ethnically underrepresented groups hold about 15% of biotech executive positions
Researchers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups publish 35% fewer papers than their white counterparts
Only 8% of biotech startup founders are from underrepresented backgrounds
Only 12% of biotech leadership roles are held by people of color
Minority scientists are 25% less likely to be included as authors in high-impact biotech research publications
Only 10% of biotech venture capital funding is allocated to companies founded by women and minorities
Asian scientists are underrepresented in leadership roles, comprising only 10% of biotech executives
15% of biotech publications in high-impact journals include authors from underrepresented groups
Minority-owned biotech startups receive about 3% of total industry funding
There has been a 12% increase in hiring from diverse backgrounds in biotech over the past three years
Proteins and therapies aimed at underserved populations are 30% underrepresented in biotech pipelines
40% of new biotech hires in 2023 were from underrepresented ethnicities, showing progress in workforce diversification
The racial diversity index for biotech companies is 0.45 on a scale where 1 represents complete diversity, indicating room for significant improvement
The dropout rate of minority students in biotech-related STEM programs is 25% higher than their peers
There is a 5% annual increase in the hiring of underrepresented minorities in biotech, indicating ongoing efforts toward greater inclusivity
Approximately 25% of biotech academic research collaborations include partners from underrepresented groups, fostering greater diversity in research networks
Only 15% of biotech patents filed between 2018-2023 list at least one inventor from an underrepresented background, indicating room for improvement
The average salary gap between minority and non-minority biotech employees is approximately 12%, pointing to ongoing equity challenges
60% of biotech hiring managers report that lack of diverse candidate pools is a significant obstacle, indicating ongoing recruitment challenges
Only 11% of biotech marketing campaigns feature diverse representation, highlighting a gap in inclusive branding
65% of biotech students from underrepresented groups drop out before completing their PhDs or advanced degrees, a significant barrier to leadership
Minority women in biotech earn approximately 23% less than white women, emphasizing layered disparities
The average tenure of minority scientists in biotech firms is 3.2 years shorter than their non-minority counterparts, pointing to retention issues

Ethnic and Racial Representation Interpretation

Despite a modest 12% annual increase in hiring from underrepresented backgrounds and recent strides in workforce diversification, the biotech industry still reflects a stark landscape of opportunity gaps—ranging from only 15% of executive roles held by ethnically underrepresented groups to a mere 8% of startup founders from these backgrounds—underscoring that true inclusion remains a biotech 'pipeline' still in need of significant repair.

Gender Diversity

Women in biotech earn about 17% less than their male counterparts
Biotech industry workforce is approximately 40% female, compared to 54% in the overall healthcare sector
In biotech, the representation of women in early-stage companies is higher than in established firms, at about 33%
Less than 10% of biotech patents are filed by women inventors
Women hold only 22% of biotech CEO positions worldwide
30% of biotech R&D funding is allocated to projects led by women or minority scientists, showing growing commitment to inclusive research leadership
The percentage of biotech patents annually filed by women remains under 10%, indicating gender-based patenting disparities

Gender Diversity Interpretation

Despite making up nearly 40% of the biotech workforce and leading a third of early-stage ventures, women remain underrepresented as inventors and CEOs and face a significant wage gap, highlighting that progress in diversity and inclusion still has miles to go in transforming the industry's power and innovation landscape.

Innovation and Equity Initiatives

72% of biotech industry employees believe that increasing DEI efforts would improve innovation
Companies with more diverse executive teams see 19% higher innovation revenue
48% of biotech employees believe that DEI initiatives positively impact innovation and productivity
Being part of a diverse team increases the likelihood of biotech innovation success by 15%
The proportion of biotech research funding dedicated to projects focused on rare and underserved populations increased by 18% over five years, reflecting DEI priorities
Initiatives focusing on equitable access to biotech innovation have increased investment by 14% in underserved communities, supporting DEI-driven growth

Innovation and Equity Initiatives Interpretation

These compelling statistics underscore that embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion isn't just a moral imperative for the biotech industry but a strategic catalyst for innovation and growth—proving that the path to groundbreaking breakthroughs is paved with diverse voices and equitable access.

Leadership and Board Composition

Women make up approximately 27% of R&D leadership roles in the biotech industry
Only 20% of biotech corporate boards are women
72% of biotech CEOs acknowledge the importance of DEI but only 45% have comprehensive strategies in place
58% of biotech employees believe that leadership diversity correlates with better company performance
Only 25% of biotech corporate boards have gender parity
The percentage of women in biotech leadership roles has increased by 4% annually over the past five years
Less than 20% of biotech leadership roles are occupied by persons with disabilities, highlighting an area for increased representation
The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in biotech leadership is approximately 5%, indicating underrepresentation

Leadership and Board Composition Interpretation

Despite a steady 4% annual rise in women’s biotech leadership over five years, the industry’s persistent gender disparities, limited disability and LGBTQ+ representation, and a gap between DEI acknowledgment and strategic implementation underscore that biotech’s diversity journey is still very much a work in progress.

Workforce and Employee Engagement

45% of biotech companies have implemented specific DEI initiatives
About 60% of biotech firms have a dedicated diversity and inclusion officer or team
68% of biotech employees feel that their company does not do enough to foster inclusivity
55% of biotech companies report difficulty recruiting diverse talent
80% of biotech organizations have set measurable goals for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion
65% of biotech employees believe DEI initiatives are critical for company success
The percentage of international employees in biotech companies is around 25%, promoting global diversity
50% of biotech institutions have implemented unconscious bias training programs
Companies with inclusive cultures have a 23% higher retention rate of diverse employees
35% of biotech workers have experienced discrimination or bias in the workplace
Training programs focused on cultural competence increased employee satisfaction scores by 18% in biotech firms
54% of biotech organizations consider DEI a top strategic priority
70% of biotech professionals support mandatory diversity training in the workplace
Only 9% of biotech companies have comprehensive DEI policies that address intersectionality
67% of biotech industry professionals agree that transparent DEI metrics are essential for progress
The number of biotech companies with formal DEI policies increased by 22% in the past two years, demonstrating a trend toward institutional change
55% of biotech employees support initiatives that promote gender parity and racial equity, according to recent surveys
72% of biotech companies have implemented mentorship programs for underrepresented groups, aiming to improve inclusion and career advancement
44% of biotech workforce diversity efforts include collaboration with community organizations to improve local talent pipelines
70% of biotech companies believe that improving workforce diversity directly correlates with better patient outcomes
Organizations with publicly available DEI reports saw a 30% faster increase in workforce diversity over three years, based on industry data
50% of biotech industry leaders believe that mandatory DEI training should be part of onboarding processes for new hires
Biotech industry membership in professional DEI organizations increased by 35% in the past year, demonstrating a rising commitment to inclusion
80% of biotech bioscience companies have diversity policies, but only 40% actively monitor progress and outcomes, pointing to gaps in accountability
A survey found that 62% of biotech employees from underrepresented groups do not feel fully included in decision-making processes, highlighting inclusion gaps

Workforce and Employee Engagement Interpretation

Despite over 80% of biotech firms professing diversity policies, a sobering 68% of employees feel inclusivity is lacking, revealing that while many companies set measurable DEI goals and appoint dedicated officers, the industry still grapples with translating policies into meaningful workplace change that truly fosters inclusion and intersectionality.