200 000 Learners to Drive Europe’s Advanced Materials Leadership

Launched today at the EIT Education and Skills Days 2025, the European Advanced Materials Academy is a new flagship EU initiative designed to equip people with the skills to drive innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across Europe’s advanced materials sector.

The newly launched Academy will train a future-ready workforce to boost Europe’s leadership in advanced materials, innovation and sustainability. The Academy will tackle Europe’s urgent need for skilled talent in high-tech sectors such as energy, mobility, electronics, and construction. 

As advanced materials form the backbone of sustainable industries and resilient value chains, the initiative will train 200 000 learners by 2029 to foster new talent, support lifelong learning, and close the skills gap in this field. The Academy is led by EIT RawMaterials, Europe’s leading innovation community in raw and advanced materials.

With the launch of the European Advanced Materials Academy, the EIT is once again mobilising its unique ecosystem to meet Europe’s skills needs. As the EU’s only innovation body with a strong local presence in every Member State, we connect business and education on the ground, ensuring training that matches real industry demand. This Academy will equip learners with advanced materials skills for today’s jobs while preparing Europe for global leadership in this strategic field.

Martin Kern, Director of the EIT

The race for Europe’s industrial leadership will be won by those who innovate faster, design sustainably, and scale talent. With the launch of the European Advanced Materials Academy, we are not only preparing for the future, we are shaping it. From AI-driven design to circular manufacturing, this Academy will equip Europe’s workforce to lead the next generation of materials innovation.’ He added: ‘By engaging 200 000 learners across the EU, we are building the skills and sovereignty Europe needs. EIT RawMaterials is proud to play a pivotal role in connecting the value chain, from raw materials to the most advanced applications, and in developing the critical talent for Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Bernd Schäfer, CEO and Managing Director of EIT RawMaterials

The Academy offers a comprehensive portfolio of multilingual, modular, and accredited learning solutions across the advanced materials value chain. Key features include: 

• skills-first learning pathways for students and professionals;
• industry-aligned training in areas such as digital materials modelling, additive manufacturing, AI applications, and sustainable-by-design innovation;
• train-the-trainer programmes and micro-credentials to ensure scale and transferability. 

The European Advanced Materials Academy was formally launched during the EIT Education and Skills Days in Brussels on 15 October 2025 by Maria Cristina Russo, Director of Prosperity, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, and Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director, EIT RawMaterials. 

The initiative directly supports the EU’s Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership strategy, announced in 2024, and the upcoming Advanced Materials Act, planned for 2026. It also aligns with major policy priorities such as the Union of Skills – the European Commission’s cross-sectoral effort to upskill Europe’s workforce for a sustainable and technologically advanced future. 

Press Release