IS EUROPE ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE 20 MILLION ICT SPECIALISTS BY 2030?
The 20×30 Summit, a pivotal event marking the end of the LEADS project, gathered over 150 attendees from diverse sectors—business, academia, policy, HR, technology, and education. The summit laid the groundwork for Europe’s ambitious goal: achieving 20 million ICT specialists by 2030.
Rehana Schwinninger, Head of Unit at G2 DG CNECT, set the tone by outlining the European Commission’s vision for the digital decade. Emphasising the need for trustworthy and sustainable digital technologies, she underscored Europe’s quest for digital sovereignty and a robust internet marketplace.
Amidst the discussions, critical questions emerged: How do we make the education system more agile? How do we build bridges within the industry so that those who come out of universities respond to the industry’s needs? How do we make everyone more easily adaptable? These questions are pivotal for Europe to achieve its 2030 objectives.
Kristen Doran, Global HR Business Partner at SAP, highlighted the importance of viewing change as an opportunity. “There is no single action or institution that can solve this problem alone,” she said. Collaboration among industry, academia, non-profits, and government is crucial. She noted that while bringing in agile talent is often easier than incentivizing senior employees to adapt, companies must encourage personal development plans.
Learn more about the challenges of achieving the 20×30 objectives here
Are we on the right path to achieve the goal?
Jack Hamande, DG Federal Public Service Policy and Support in Belgium stressed that upskilling and reskilling are shared responsibilities. Skills, he said, are essential for achieving the EU’s digital goals. Promoting female participation and fostering public-private cooperation are also key. “The private sector is engaging in ensuring that we have the development, upskilling, and reskilling of the workforce; we cannot achieve the goal if we are not working together”.
Araceli Venegas Gomez, founder and CEO of QURECA, underscored the urgency of bringing advanced technologies to companies and the public. She stressed raising awareness within industries to foster broader adoption.
As LEADS concludes, the focus shifts to sustained collaboration with new partners in the advanced digital skills sector. Yet, critical questions remain: How do we dismantle institutional barriers? How do we promote micro-credentials? How do we engage girls and women in ICT? And crucially, how do we empower the next generation to co-create rather than passively consume?
The summit was not just a culmination but a catalyst for ongoing dialogue and action. It’s a call for all stakeholders—public and private—to unite, innovate, and propel Europe towards a prosperous digital future.
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