From Ideas to Impact
Two days, four initiatives, one shared goal: building an innovative education and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Europe.
Europe’s future depends on its people — and their skills. For the first time, the EIT Community is bringing together four flagship education initiatives in a unique two-day event. With over 800 participants, including innovators, educators, and decision-makers, this first-of-its-kind gathering will foster collaboration to shape the future of education and skills across Europe, equipping learners of all ages with the skills to thrive.
Agenda at a glance
9:00 – 9:30
REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE
9:30 – 10:00
EIT HIGH-LEVEL OPENING
Ekaterina Zaharieva
EU Commissioner Startups, Research and Innovation, European Commission
Nicodemos Damianou
Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus
Stefan Dobrev
Governing Board Chairperson, EIT
10:00 – 10:45
High-level panel: Building Europe’s talent pipeline: driving the Union of Skills and STEM Strategy
Moderator: Martin Kern
Director, EIT
Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva
Director for Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation, European Commission
Ivars Ijabs
Member, European Parliament
Steven Engels
Head of Unit, Professional Qualifications and Skills for Competitiveness, European Commission
Yun Luo
CEO, ROSI
10:45 – 11:15
COFFEE BREAK
EIT SKILLS ACADEMIES PROGRAMME
11:15 – 12:00
Building Europe’s Net-Zero Workforce: Lessons, Insights, and What’s Next
Topics covered:
- Introduction to the NZIA Academies blueprint
- Panel discussion: Harmonising certification pathways – Solar Credential Installer Initiative
- Feedback in Action: How we listen, adapt, improve – Q&A with the audience
Moderator: Oana Penu
Director of InnoEnergy, InnoEnergy Skills Institute
Jacqui Wigg
Solar Academy Coordinator, InnoEnergy
Cameron Borrett
Certification Manager, InnoEnergy
Ildiko Mazar
Leading the tech support at Europass, European Commission
Michael Reiner
CEO, ECQA
12:00 - 12:45
Resilient by Design: Powering Skills and Talent for Europe’s Raw Materials Future
Europe’s raw materials sector is at a crossroads. Macro trends, shrinking talent pipelines, and surging demand for green and digital expertise pose critical risks to competitiveness. This session will bring together leaders from industry, vocational training, and higher education to explore how skills development can underpin industrial resilience and growth. At the centre is the European Raw Materials Academy, led by EIT RawMaterials, this initiative connects industry needs to education and innovation to rapidly equip Europe’s raw materials workforce for the transition ahead, ensuring industrial resilience in the face of increasing global competition.
Moderator: Alison Opalko
Education Manager, EIT RawMaterials
Giulia Meschino
Secretary General , European Vocational Training Association (EVTA)
Didier Zimmermann
Business Development and Fundraising Director, EIT RawMaterials
Enrico Borella
Public Affairs Manager Mining, CECE - The Committee of European Construction Equipment
Severine Lafont
SVP HR Europe, Sibanye Stillwater
Rolf Kuby
Director General, Euromines
12:45 - 13:00
Next-Gen Skills from Science to Industry: Launching the European Advanced Materials Academy
Maria Cristina Russo
Director for Prosperity, DG RTD
Bernd Schäfer
CEO and Managing Director, EIT RawMaterials
13:00 – 14:00
NETWORKING LUNCH
EIT DEEP TECH TALENT INITIATIVE PROGRAMME
14:00 – 14:15
From Knowledge to Impact: Scaling up one million trained in deep tech to build the next generation of STEM professionals
Dariusz Jemielniak
Governing Board Member, EIT
14:15 – 14:30
Keynote 1 – Driving Impact Through Collaboration: Rethinking STEM Education and Training for the Future
Topics:
- Collaboration between academia, industry, and diverse markets to bridge skills gaps
- The role of institutional support and joint strategies in driving education innovation
- Example of the EIT Deep Tech Talent partnership of 650+ members working together toward shared goals
- EU standards and microcredentials to ensure quality, recognition, and lifelong learning
Liene Briede
Vice Rector for Innovations, Riga Technical University
14:30 – 15:15
Panel 1 – Empowering Today’s Workforce with AI Skills
Topics:
- Need to design inclusive and accessible training pathways to ensure no one is left behind in the digital transition
- Bridging education and innovation through collaboration between universities, VET providers, and tech transfer ecosystems
- How to adapt curricula to real-world needs, with strong ties to industry and rapid tech developments in AI
- Promoting EU-aligned microcredentials and skills standards for flexible, lifelong learning and workforce mobility
Moderator: Mirza Pašić
Associate professor and Vice dean for international cooperation, University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Petia Radeva
Professor, Head of the Consolidated Research Group “Computer Vision and Machine Learning”, University of Barcelona and member of the EIT Deep Tech Talent’s Advisory Board
Tomasz Chyrchel
CEO, Generator Pomysłów and programme director of AIDEAS
David Timis
Global Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Generation
Siddhi Pal
Project Lead- AI & Labor, Interface
Diana Filip
Deputy CEO, JA Europe
15:15 - 15:30
Impact Story 1 - Impact on Training
This 15-minute session highlights the tangible outcomes of EIT Community Education activities. It features a brief pitch of the winning impact story from the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, followed by a short interactive segment with the audience.
Tomasz Chyrchel
CEO, Generator Pomysłów and programme director of AIDEAS
15:30 - 16:00
NETWORKING COFFEE
16:00 – 16:15
Keynote 2 – Strengthening Europe’s Quantum Ecosystem: The Strategic Role of Skills and Talent
Almudena Justo Martínez
Director, International Quantum Center at FSAS Technologies (a Fujitsu Company) Spain
16:15 – 17:00
Panel 2 - Building a talent pipeline for Cybersecurity and Quantum
Topics:
- Quantum technologies as a strategic frontier: enabling breakthroughs in computing, sensing, communication, and security
- Connecting academic research with industry needs to turn scientific advances into scalable applications
- Creating inclusive, future-ready training pathways to broaden access to high-impact quantum careers
- Supporting EU-wide standards and microcredentials to ensure quality, portability, and recognition across the quantum talent ecosystem
Moderator: Andreea Moga
Lead Founding Partner, QuLearnLabs
Aurél Gabris
Deputy Head of Department of Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague and Chair of QWorld Association
Victoria Strokan
Chief Marketing Officer, Science, Entrepreneurship, Technology (SET) University
Giulia Meschino
Secretary General , European Vocational Training Association (EVTA)
17:00 – 17:15
Impact Story 2 - Impact on Talents
This 15-minute session highlights the tangible outcomes of EIT Community Education activities. It features a brief pitch of the winning impact story from the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, followed by a short interactive segment with the audience.
Josephine Daly Tempelaar
Co-founder, QuLearnLabs
Ankita Chakrabarti
Mentor, QuLearnLabs
Ilia Fazeli
Marketing & Mentor Intern, QuLearnLabs
17:15 – 17:45
NETWORKING BREAK
17:45 – 18:00
Impact Story 3 - Impact through Collaboration
This 15-minute session highlights the tangible outcomes of EIT Community Education activities. It features a brief pitch of the winning impact story from the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, followed by a short interactive segment with the audience.
Victoria Strokan
Chief Marketing Officer, Science, Entrepreneurship, Technology (SET) University
18:00 – 18:45
Trainer of the Year 2025 Announcement
An interactive session to celebrate the most prolific training pledgers. The first half of the session consists of an interactive quiz to make the audience guess the numbers and areas where the most talents trained are. On the second half of the session we give away the certificates to Pledgers winning in different categories and they have 5 minutes to pitch their training programmes.
Natalie Cernecka
Project Manager, EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
Cynthia Expósito Aponte
Communications and Digital Marketing Officer, EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
18:45 – 19:00
Shaping the Future of STEM. Outlook and next steps for the STEM Tech Talent Induction
Rolf Hughes
Director of Education, EIT Culture & Creativity
Natalie Cernecka
Project Manager, EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
19:00 – 22:00
NETWORKING AND RECEPTION
EIT Women and Girls in STEM programme
8:30 – 9:00
REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE
9:00 – 9:30
Opening and announcement of the Girls Go STEM
Anna Linden
Governing Board Member, EIT
9:30 – 10:00
Panel discussion: Cyber careers uncovered: from gaming to global security
Topics covered:
- Exploring a wide range of cybersecurity careers—beyond coding—including roles in design, psychology, law, and policy
- How diverse perspectives, especially from women, are essential to shaping a safer digital future
Moderator: Maria Metodieva
Student, Girls Go Circular Ambassador Cohort 1
Magda Lilia Chelly
Co-Founder and CEO, RiskImmune AI Platform and founder of Women on Cyber
Dominik Koehler
Product Owner for Vulnerability and Exposure Management, KONE
10:00 – 10:30
Fireside Chat: My Journey into Tech – What I Wish I Knew at 16
Topics covered:
- Personal journey of a young professional in gaming
- Challenges or doubts faced and how they overcame them
- Advice for teenage students, especially girls, considering careers in tech
- Q&A with audience
Moderator: Sofiya Chuzhda
Student, Girls Go Circular Ambassador Cohort 1
Mariina Hallikainen
CEO, Colossal Order
10:30 – 11:00
REFRESHMENT BREAK
11:00 – 12:15
Student Challenge Finale
Student Challenge Finale: The three Finalist teams of the Cybersecurity Challenge get to pitch their ideas on stage in front of an expert Jury and the public.
The Cambridge University Press & Assessment Prize offers a trip to Cambridge to meet inspiring women from various fields, with a chance to visit the campus and explore the CUP office.
Jury panel:
Wilhelmine Dubuisson
Key Account Manager - IT & Telco, Proximus Group
Swaathi Vetrivel
Postdoctoral Researcher, TU Delft, ENHANCE Alliance
Helen Lovekin
Head of the Office of the CTO, National Cyber Security Centre
12:15 – 12:20
Closing remarks
12:30 – 13:30
LUNCH
EIT Higher Education Initiative programme
10:00 – 13:30
Higher Education Initiative Networking Brunch (external location)
Please kindly note that currently, you can only join the waiting list to attend this session. The venue is the Panoramic Hall at Square – Brussels Convention Centre.
14:00 – 14:10
EIT opening
Luca Perego
Head of Unit for Innovation and EIT, DG EAC, European Commission
14:10 – 14:30
From Education to Innovation: The EIT Higher Education Initiative
Topics:
- The EIT Higher Education Initiative: purpose, impact, and strategic relevance
- Contributions to EU priorities, including the Union of Skills and Startup & Scaleup Strategy
- What’s next: official soft launch of the 2025 Call and future direction
Dolores Volkert
Head, EIT Higher Education Initiative
14:30 – 15:00
Keynote: Powering Europe’s future - the triple mandate of universities in action
Topics:
- Synergies and trade-offs between research, education, and innovation
- Challenges and opportunities in balancing all three missions
- Incentivising innovative institutional models in higher education
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Hannes Raffaseder
Prof. / President, EURASHE, E³UDRES² European University & St. Pölten UAS
15:00 – 15:45
Panel: Building Europe’s innovation-ready talent ecosystem
Topics:
- Higher education institutions are hubs for inter- and trans-disciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship
- STEM talent can benefit from the arts and humanities
- Innovation and entrepreneurship upskilling requires creative pedagogical and learning approaches
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Zoe Laughlin
Director, Institute of Making, UCL
Reimar Müller-Thum
CEO & Chancellor, CODE University of Applied Sciences
Istvan Vilmos Kovacs
Director for Learning and Teaching, Budapest Metropolitan University
15:45 – 16:10
COFFEE BREAK
16:10 – 16:55
Panel: The power of university-industry collaboration
Topics:
- What makes university–industry partnerships work from the people’s perspective
- Beyond commercialisation, partnerships provide opportunities for learning and upskilling
- Key factors in building trust and mutual value
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Ebba Lund
CEO, International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
Martin Mähler
CSR Manager Academia DACH - University Relations, IBM Germany
Arno Meerman
Founder & CEO, Keynote Speaker on Driving Innovation, Talent & Societal Impact, UIIN
16:55 – 17:40
Panel: Embedding the entrepreneurial mindset in higher education
Topics:
- Challenges of defining what is meant by the entrepreneurial mindset in the context of higher education
- Why leadership at the C-level is critical for mindset transformation
- What it takes to build an innovation culture that attracts investment and supports founders
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Mercè Segarra
Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer, University of Barcelona
Rita Anson
Co-founder, Nordic Ignite / Secretary General, NorBAN
Ronan Cunningham
Director , DCU:Innovate
17:40 - 18:00
Event closing and EIT strategic outlook
Luca Perego
Head of Unit for Innovation and EIT, DG EAC, European Commission
Ilaria Tagliavini
Head of Operations, Innovation, Education and Communication, EIT
18:00 - 19:00
Closing Reception
Discover the programme day-by-day
Our Sponsors and Exhibitors
Building Europe's Skills for Tomorrow
As the green and digital transitions redefine our world, Europe is facing growing skills shortages – from high-tech labs to low-carbon industries. A resilient, innovative Europe needs people who are adaptable, entrepreneurial and equipped for change.
That is why the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) – the EU’s largest innovation ecosystem -is working helping them gain the skills they need to thrive through every stage of life. From students to professionals the EIT is building Europe’s talent base with a united cross-sector effort in skilling, upskilling and reskilling throughout all stages of life.
The EIT Education and Skills Days 2025 bring the spirit of the Union of Skills to life by:
Connecting education with innovation
Empowering universities, startups, and public bodies alike.
Driving
inclusion
Boosting gender balance and opening access to quality education for all.
Supporting lifelong learning
From school students to professionals upskilling and reskilling.
Explore the participating initiatives
01
EIT Skills Academies
Mandated by the European Commission and run by the EIT Community, the EIT Skills Academies deliver hands-on training and specialised skills in strategic sectors like clean tech, energy, advanced manufacturing, and defence. These Academies are driving Europe’s industrial transformation by equipping people with the expertise needed for resilient and future-ready value chains.
02
EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
Launched by the European Commission, EIT Deep Tech Talent is a flagship initiative that has already trained over 1 million people in cutting-edge deep tech fields since the end of 2022.
With a vibrant network of 600+ partners—the Pledgers—and over 210 available courses, the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative is on a mission to close the deep tech skills gap in Europe.
03
EIT Women and Girls in STEM
The EIT Women and Girls in STEM celebrates the Girls Go Circular initiative, led by the EIT Community and supported by the European Commission. The initiative equips secondary school girls with green, digital, and entrepreneurial skills through a dynamic online programme.
Since 2021, over 4,600 participants have gathered every year to close the gender gap in STEM and ICT, challenge stereotypes, and empower girls to pursue careers in science and technology.
04
EIT Higher Education Initiative
Europe’s future as a global innovation leader depends on turning research into real-world impact.
Since 2021, the EIT Higher Education Initiative has connected pioneers in research, education, and industry across Europe. The Initiative has invested €120 million, trained 130,000+ changemakers, and supported 2,600+ start-ups. And along the way, they’ve helped to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges.
Who is this event for?
Policymakers
Working on education, skills, and talent
Educators & academics
Seeking innovation & entrepreneurship programmes
Industry leaders
Looking to connect and access new opportunities
Start-ups & scale-ups
Fuelling Europe’s innovation economy
Learners
At all stages of their skilling journey
Why joining?
- Get first-hand insights into the EU education and innovation strategy under the Union of Skills
- Connect and build partnerships countries and sectors and borders
- Discover real success stories from the EIT’s top education programmes
- Take away fresh ideas to strengthen your own learning ecosystem
