EIT Powers Europe’s Innovators: New Initiatives To Close The Skills Gap
EITThe European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) today unveiled new key education and skills initiatives to strengthen Europe’s talent base.
The announcements, made at the EIT Education and Skills Days in Brussels, reflect the EIT’s mission to close Europe’s skills gap and prepare innovators to deliver on the Commission’s Union of Skills, its STEM Education Strategic Plan, and the Startup and Scale-up Strategy.
Future of the Deep Tech Talent Initiative
The EIT confirmed that its successful Deep Tech Talent Initiative, which has already engaged over one million learners in fields with major talent needs in Europe such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cleantech, will evolve into the EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction. This will expand training access, strengthen links with national skilling programmes, and introduce EU-wide micro-credentials to ensure the portability of skills. The ambition is to train and certify at least one million people in Europe in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and deep tech by 2028.
From Girls Go Circular to Girls Go STEM
Building on the success of its flagship Girls Go Circular programme, which has already trained over 80 000 students in digital and entrepreneurial skills, the EIT is launching the new Girls Go STEM programme under the EU’s STEM Education Strategic Plan. This expanded initiative will focus on core STEM subjects, embedding creativity and entrepreneurship skills. It aims to train 100 000 schoolgirls contributing to the joint EU objective of reaching one million women and girls in STEM education by 2028. The target is set to be achieved together with other EU programmes, namely Erasmus+, the European University Alliances, and the Digital Skills Academies under the Digital Europe Programme.
Higher Education Initiative: A New Call to Cooperate with the European University Alliances
The EIT also announced an upcoming call under its Higher Education Initiative (HEI), which helps universities boost their capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship. The new 2025 call will focus on strengthening Europe’s STEM talent pipeline and will build stronger ties between the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities and the European Universities Alliances to boost Europe’s competitiveness. This Call will contribute to the STEM Education Strategic Plan target: training 200,000 STEM students, academic staff, and non-academic staff in innovation, entrepreneurship, and IP management by 2028. With over 1000 organisations already involved across Europe, the HEI Initiative creates new startups, and has trained thousands of students and university staff in future skills, encouraging cooperation with business. The announcements underline the EIT’s contribution to EU priorities such as the Union of Skills, the STEM Education Strategic Plan, and the Startup and Scale-up Strategy. Together, they form part of the EIT Innovation Campus – a coordinated education portfolio designed to train 2.3 million learners by 2028 and secure Europe’s leadership in innovation.
There is no innovation without education. With these initiatives, the EIT continues to power Europe’s innovation engine – equipping young people, students, and professionals with the skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and networks they need to succeed. By investing in STEM education, deep tech talent, and higher education capacity, we are ensuring that Europe remains competitive, resilient, and able to lead in the technologies and industries of the future.
Martin Kern, EIT Director
About the EIT Education & Skills Days
The EIT Education & Skills Days are a flagship event bringing together policymakers, educators, and innovators to explore how Europe can equip its people with the skills needed to drive the green and digital transitions. On 15–16 October in Brussels, participants discussed how the EIT’s flagship initiatives –such as the Deep Tech Talent Initiative, the Higher Education Initiative, Girls Go Circular, and the EIT Skills Academies – are creating new pathways for learners, educators, and innovators. You can rewatch the event here.
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