Author: Dave Feenan, Director, Digital Technology Skills

I was delighted to represent Digital Technology Skills at the EIT Education and Skills Conference in Brussels this month (15th + 16th October). The theme of the two day conference was a shared goal: Building an innovative education and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Europe.

For the first time, the EIT Community brought together four flagship education initiatives in this unique two-day event. With over 800 participants, including innovators, educators, and decision-makers, this first-of-its-kind gathering fostered collaboration to shape the future of education and skills across Europe, equipping learners of all ages with the skills to thrive. Europe’s future depends on its people – and their skills.

Of primary interest for the team at Digital Technology Skills was the EIT Deep Tech Talent initiative, which has already trained over 1 million people in cutting-edge deep tech fields since 2022. With a vibrant network and over 210 available courses, the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative is on a mission to close the deep tech skills gap in Europe.

During the conference panelists and keynote speakers showcased the impact of a diverse community of companies, training providers, and institutions committed to advancing deep tech education in Europe. The agenda placed impact, collaboration and community at the heart of the conversations. Hot topics like AI, Cybersecurity and Quantum were all addressed.

Another key initiative aligned to us was the EIT Skills Academy which delivers hands-on training and specialised skills in strategic sectors like clean tech, energy, advanced manufacturing, and defence. These Academies are driving Europe’s industrial transformation by equipping people with the expertise needed for resilient and future-ready value chains.

It is essential that talent led initiatives at a national level, like Skillnet Ireland, continue to be supported and leveraged by industry. Coupled with this, involvement in, and support of, pan-European initiatives is also key, as skills will drive competitiveness and skills mobility is here to stay.

Learn more about the National Projects and European Projects that Digital Technology Skills is currently involved in.