Building Europe's Next STEM Generation
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.
As part of the EIT Education and Skills Days 2025, the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative will host keynotes, panels, interactive sessions, and networking moments on October 15 in Brussels. The focus will be on showcasing the impact of a diverse community of companies, training providers, and institutions committed to advancing deep tech education in Europe. The half-day agenda places impact, collaboration and community at the heart of the conversation.
Agenda | 15th October
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
Diana Filip
Deputy CEO, JA Europe
Siddhi Pal
Project Lead- AI & Labor, Interface
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
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
Our Speakers
Moderator: Mirza Pašić
Associate professor and Vice dean for international cooperation | University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Moderator: Andreea Moga
Lead Founding Partner | QuLearnLabs
Almudena Justo Martínez
Director | International Quantum Center at FSAS Technologies (a Fujitsu Company) Spain
Aurél Gabris
Deputy Head of Department of Physics | Czech Technical University in Prague and Chair of QWorld Association
David Timis
Global Communications & Public Affairs Manager | Generation
Giulia Meschino
Secretary General | European Vocational Training Association (EVTA)
Liene Briede
Vice Rector for Innovations | Riga Technical University
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
Siddhi Pal
Project Lead- AI & Labor | Interface
Tomasz Chyrchel
CEO | Generator Pomysłów and programme director of AIDEAS
Victoria Strokan
Chief Marketing Officer | Science, Entrepreneurship, Technology (SET) University
Dariusz Jemielniak
Governing Board Member | EIT
Diana Filip
Deputy CEO | JA Europe
Josephine Daly Tempelaar
Co-founder | QuLearnLabs
Ankita Chakrabarti
Mentor | QuLearnLabs
Rolf Hughes
Director of Education | EIT Culture & Creativity
Ilia Fazeli
Marketing & Mentor Intern | QuLearnLabs
Natalie Cernecka
Project Manager | EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
Cynthia Expósito Aponte
Communications and Digital Marketing Officer | EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
Our Sponsors and Exhibitors
Why joining?
This is a must-attend gathering for educators, training providers, policymakers,
innovators, and industry leaders looking to shape the future of deep tech talent
in Europe:
- Gain fresh insights on deep tech skills development and industry trends
- Boost visibility among key players in the ecosystem
- Connect with educators, policymakers,innovators, and training providers
- Discover new opportunities for collaboration,funding, and impact
