On 17–18 March 2025 , DEDEP.eu was happy to take part in the two-day event co-organised by LEADSx2030 and the DIGITAL Europe Programme in Luxembourg, bringing together project leaders, policymakers, and experts to shape the future of advanced digital skills in Europe.
The event focused on one clear key mission, that is ensuring that Europe is equipped with the talent and training it needs to stay competitive in a fast-changing digital world. From AI and quantum to virtual worlds and semiconductors, the agenda reflected the EU’s ambition to lead in cutting-edge sectors—and to do so with a workforce that’s skilled, agile, and diverse.
During the discussions, key Commission figures—including Yvo Volman, Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak, and Anne Bajart—emphasised the need for a coordinated approach to digital skills. The main goal is to have, by 2030, 20 million ICT specialists employed and at least 80% of citizens with basic digital skills. But achieving that means tackling persistent challenges, including fragmented training efforts, limited cross-border coordination, and a need for more inclusive and sustainable programmes.
“For DIGITAL we have set the objective of 20 million ICT specialist employed in Europe by 2030. With the Union of skills, we are making the move towards a coordinated approach, this means better alignment between training and the top part, also, ensuring that workers and earnings are equipped for real world demands. We have a vision, a solid strategy in place, and the tools to make it happen.”
Highlights from the Event
Throughout the event, several key themes stood out:
- The “Union of Skills”: Eight key EU actions were announced, including the creation of new digital academies and joint degrees, along with initiatives to encourage girls and women into STEM.
- Cybersecurity Skills Academy: A focused effort to close the cybersecurity talent gap, with new tools, training programmes, and governance models being developed.
- Talent retention: Education isn’t enough. Housing, visa policies, and social ecosystems are needed to make Europe a welcoming place for global digital talent.
- Accreditation & sustainability: Building training programmes that can last beyond initial funding is a top priority and this requires early industry involvement and flexible cost models.
These challenges are complex, and it is not easy to tackle them alone. That’s why collaboration and knowledge sharing were recurring themes throughout the event, and this is why initiatives like DEDEP.eu can help building connections across the DIGITAL community.
Why DEDEP.eu Was There
At DEDEP.eu, we’re focused on dissemination and exploitation (D&E)—making sure that DIGITAL-funded projects don’t just develop great ideas, but that these ideas are seen, adopted, and sustained. The conversations in Luxembourg confirmed something we’ve seen across many projects: there’s incredible innovation happening, but without the right support, results risk staying “trapped” inside projects.
This is exactly where DEDEP.eu can help.
We’re currently launching pilot actions that support DIGITAL projects in strengthening their D&E strategies. These pilots aim to help the projects understanding their value and communicate it effectively and explore the best ways and tools for engaging stakeholders and users
If your project is looking to improve how it shares, scales, or sustains its work, we'd love to hear from you.
👉 Apply here to join our Pilot Actions
