How the EU Trained 1 Million Deep Tech Talents: Milestones, Partnerships, and the Next Phase

Training covered core deep tech fields most critical to Europe's innovation pipeline: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and cybersecurity . As of late 2025, the initiative had surpassed 1.3 million individuals trained, offered 235+ courses and programmes, including 90+ AI and machine learning programmes and 30+ cybersecurity and data protection programmes .

In October 2025, the EIT announced the initiative would evolve into the EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction, expanding training access, strengthening links with national skilling programmes, and introducing EU-wide micro-credentials .

Strategic Impact on Europe's Tech Talent Gap

The initiative mobilised over 600 partner organisations across the EIT's Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), industry, academia, and training providers, creating a pan-European skilling ecosystem . It operates as a pledge-based model: organisations commit to training targets, scaling delivery far beyond what any single institution could achieve alone .

This directly addresses Europe's structural shortage of skilled labour in deep tech. According to McKinsey, the tech talent gap in the 27 EU countries could be as large as 3.9 million by 2027, resulting in economic losses of as much as €600 billion if not closed . The EIT identifies this shortage as a barrier to leveraging new technologies for competitiveness .

A notable outcome: 36% of trained talents since 2023 were women, reflecting an intentional push on gender balance within the deep tech workforce .

Diversity Programs: Girls Go Circular

Girls Go Circular is a flagship youth education programme led by EIT RawMaterials that equips girls aged 14–19 with digital and entrepreneurial skills through an online learning platform focused on the circular economy . It achieved its goal of training 40,000 young women across 33 countries — ahead of its original 2027 deadline — using an online platform called the Circular Learning Space .

The programme is part of EIT Youth, which also includes the Women and Girls in STEM Forum and Junior Alumni initiatives . It specifically targets closing the digital gender gap in modest and moderate innovator countries according to the European Innovation Scoreboard, where the gap is widest . Girls Go Circular complements the Deep Tech Talent Initiative by building the pipeline of future female deep tech talent at the secondary school level, before learners enter the workforce or higher education .

Continued Commitment Under the Union of Skills

The EU's Union of Skills initiative (part of the broader European Skills Agenda) prioritises upskilling for digital and green transformation, aiming for a workforce that is adaptable, innovative, and competitive . The EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative is explicitly positioned to play a key role in delivering the Union of Skills and the STEM Education Action Plan from 2026 to 2028 .

During this period, the EIT will scale STEM capacity across Europe through a comprehensive catalogue of deep tech training, its wide provider network, and funding to develop new courses responding to emerging needs . The transition into the EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction ensures the programme's continuity and expansion beyond the original 1-million target, deepening its contribution to EU competitiveness .