EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative to train one million European talents

Today at the EIT Summit, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel announced the launch of the Deep Tech Talent Initiative, one of the flagship actions of the new European Innovation Agenda. Under this initiative, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) will target one million European talents in deep tech domains by 2025. Deep Tech innovations are rooted in cutting edge science, technology and engineering, often combining advances in the physical, biological and digital spheres and addressing pressing societal needs. Commissioner Gabriel invited partners, stakeholders and Member States to join the pledge and to support the EIT‘s efforts in achieving the ambitious target of the initiative. Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said: “Fostering, attracting and retaining deep tech talents is crucial to enable the green and digital transitions and harness a new wave of innovation in line with the New European Innovation Agenda. With its network of 3,400 partners across Europe, the EIT will develop the deep tech education programmes the EU needs and to train one million European talents. The initiative will ensure that Europe is in the vanguard of global cutting-edge technological advancements, and I encourage all European deep tech stakeholders, from educators and employers to Member States, to make a pledge to support it.” The EIT-led initiative will provide trainings in the deep tech fields such as advanced materials and manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, blockchain, robotics, photonics, electronics, quantum computing, aerospace, sustainable energy and cleantech across all Member States. The programmes will be open to all European talents from all education levels, from secondary school students to higher education students, professionals and entrepreneurs, and all education and training providers. There will be a particular focus on a strong participation of women, as well as countries with lower innovation capacity. Deep tech has the potential to deliver transformative solutions to the most pressing societal challenges from green and digital transitions to Europe’s strategic sovereignty and to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To develop these new technologies and bring them to the market, Europe needs a skilled labour force trained in the state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information about the initiative, consult the EIT press release. To join the pledge, access the website of the initiative. This initiative comes at a moment when the Commission is preparing to outline its plans about the 2023 European Year of Skills, as proposed by President von der Leyen in her recent State of the Union address.