The EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative has announced it has reached its goal of 1 million deep tech talents trained – 6 months ahead of its December 2025 deadline.
Under the New European Innovation Agenda, the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative is the European Commission’s instrument to position Europe at the forefront of the new wave of deep tech innovation. With the rising importance of deep tech, both for improving individual quality of life and for European global competitiveness, also came a pressing need to prepare the next generation of talents in areas like AI, Quantum, New materials, and more.
The programme unites over 600 universities, businesses, national institutions, and NGOs – referred to as “Pledgers” – to cultivate Europe’s next generation of deep tech professionals. This mobilization takes two key forms: The Initiative directly provides funding to accelerate the development or expansion of cutting-edge deep tech curricula. Simultaneously, Pledgers themselves contribute by either running their own specialized deep tech programs or leveraging their extensive networks to amplify the visibility and reach of deep tech training opportunities across Europe.
“We are happy to have reached the milestone of 1 million talents trained well ahead of time. But this initiative is not only about KPI. It is also about impact. Behind every number, there is a human being, who has learned new skills, acquired new competences, and made new connections. Together with our community, we are building a strong and robust deep tech ecosystem for Europe,” says Natalie Cernecka, Manager of EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
The programme places special emphasis on female learners. According to data submitted by the Pledgers, the total number of women trained since 2023 represents 36% of the total number of trained talents – 6% above the initial target of 30%.
AI tops the programme in terms of popularity, with every fifth course being related to the field. The top five deep tech fields are:
- Artificial intelligence & machine learning (including Big data)
- Advanced computing/quantum computing
- Innovation and entrepreneurship in deep tech
- Advanced materials
- Advanced manufacturing
Going forward, the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, together with other European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) initiatives, will evolve its catalogue of training programmes, network of training providers, and funding opportunities for course creation to nurture the Union of Skills – the European Commission’s new skills initiative.
