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Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility (RRF) but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of the Slovenian National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and resilience facility

The Slovenian Recovery and Resilience Plan contribute to the digital transformation of Slovenia’s society and economy with 21.4% of the plan’s total allocation. supports the digital transition with reforms in the digitalisation of the public administration, in skills and cyber security. A strategy for digital transformation and reforms on electronic identification aims to increase the use of public e-services and digitalisation of companies.

Slovenian Recovery and Resilience Plan has a total volume of  €2.5 billion (€1.8 billion in grants and  €0.7 billion in loans) and dedicates 21% of its resources to digital transformation. Slovenia’s Recovery and Sustainability Plan support the transition to digital technologies through investments in the digitalisation of public administration, skills and Cybersecurity. In the plan, the strategy of digital transformation and reforms in the field of electronic identification aimed at expanding the use of public electronic services and digitalization of companies is accompanied by investments of €260 million in the public administration sector, including in key public sectors such as healthcare (€83 million). Furthermore, €144 million are allocated to enhance the digital skills of different segments of society and in improving connectivity in schools. The government is also planning to dedicate €44 million to supporting the implementation of advanced digital technologies in companies. Several portals are being established to centralize information and calls available, you may find some of them on the web page: Digitalna preobrazba (Digital transformation) with the list of ministries responsible for reforms and investments planned in the Slovenian recovery and resilience plan.

Digital transformation of the economy (business and industry) is supported by the adoption of the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of Enterprises, guidelines for innovative procurement, and the operationalisation of a single digital identity (e-identity) for companies. The Strategy provides for the transfer of different registers to one single business register. In accordance with the Strategy, at least 200 businesses shall acquire an e-identity.

Strengthening the digital transformation of public administration aims to improve the governance of digital transformation in public administration. This will be achieved through the adoption of a Digital Public Services Strategy 2021-2030 and the establishment of an Informatics Development Council as a coordinating body of digital solutions. The Informatics Development Council was set up in February 2022. It functions as a management body, coordinating operations related to IT investment in the public sector, to its standards, the back-office systems and other technological developments where the compatibility of the systems is essential for their operation and maintenance. The Digital Public Services Strategy 2021-2030 was adopted in December 2022. It strives towards ensuring data for better services and decision-making and providing a secure, trustworthy and inclusive digital environment.

Cross border and multi-country projects – European Common Data Infrastructure and Services aims to develop and deploy the new generation of low-power infrastructure and services from Edge to Cloud, to ultimately equip the EU with global, forward-looking, ultra-secure, green industrial data processing capabilities. By mid-2024, at least seven projects should contribute towards the development and initial rollout of the next generation of innovative cloud and edge solutions to ultimately contribute to the building of a European Common Data Infrastructure and its associated innovative Smart Processing.

National Funding

DIGIT 55+ projects subsidized non-formal education to increase the digital competences of the population older than 55 years of age.

Voucher for raising digital competences for social enterprises. The purpose of the voucher is to encourage the target groups – social enterprises – to ensure the appropriate skills of the employees of the management staff for the key areas of digitization.

Other funding options

The Google.org Impact Challenge: Tech for Social Good is an open call for European nonprofits, academic or research institutions, civic entities, and social enterprises in search of technical help and funding for projects focused on sustainability, economic opportunity, or cyber security. It provides up to six months of full-time support from a team of Google.org Fellows and up to €3M funding.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Slovenia on this link.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in the form of loans, grants, and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026, most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of the Portugal’s Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and Resilience Plan

Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan consists of 83 investments and 32 reforms, supported by €13.9 billion in grants and €2.7 billion in loans. 38% of the plan will support climate objectives and 22% of the plan will foster the digital transition. Through RRP, significant investments and reforms are being implemented to facilitate the digital transformation. These efforts are focused on enhancing skills, digitalizing education and businesses, and modernizing the public sector, including general public administration, healthcare, the justice system, and tax administration.

Portugal faces digital challenges that require investments in the digital transition, specifically in the advancement of digital skills at both basic and advanced levels. Regarding qualifications and skills, RRP aims at updating the range of courses and qualifications available for vocational education, training, and lifelong learning programs. To support this reform, investments of €666 million are allocated for the modernization of vocational education and training institutions. In the area of digital health there are investments of €300 million to modernise the computer systems of the National Health Service and increase the digitalisation of medical records. The business sector digitalisation benefits from €650 million which provides support to small and medium enterprises and their employees through tailored digital skill training, coaching, and assistance in adopting digital technologies. These reforms and investments also contribute to creating a secure digital environment for the societal and business digital transition. You may find open calls on dedicated RRP website.

As an example, ‘Academia Portugal Digital’ (‘Digital Academy’) project will offer tailored training to the Portuguese workforce, to foster the development of digital skills, as well as to improve the competitiveness, resilience and create new employment opportunities. In total, 800,000 participants will go through a personalized assessment to identify their specific digital skills requirements. They will then receive targeted digital skills training through a combination of online, blended, and in-person training. Additionally, a subgroup of 200,000 participants will receive more comprehensive digital skills training that focuses on addressing specific challenges within economic sectors.

National Funding

Applications for the investment projects Avisos dos Sistemas de Incentivos do Portugal 2030 are open until 15 December 2023. This investment aims to support the productive innovation of micro-enterprises and SMEs in Portugal. Applications must present an eligible investment between 250 thousand euros and 25 million euros and be part of one of the four types of actions: the creation of a new establishment, the increase in the capacity of an existing establishment, the diversification of the production of an establishment for products not previously produced or the fundamental alteration of the overall production process of an existing establishment.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Portugal on this link.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in the form of loans, grants, and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026, most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of the Romania’s National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and Resilience Plan

Romania has developed a Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) consists of 107 investment measures and 64 reforms, which will help Romania become more sustainable, resilient, and adaptable to the challenges and opportunities posed by the green and digital transitions. The plan is supported by an estimated €14.24 billion in grants and €14.94 billion in loans. 41% of the plan will contribute to the green transition, while 20.5% of it will support the digital transition.

Digital challenges for Romania include connectivity especially in rural areas, lack of digital skills, below EU average digitalisation of schools, households, companies and public services. Existing capacities are not sufficient to ensure a high level of network security and adequate cyber risk management.

To achieve a digital transition, Romania’s recovery and resilience plan involves investments and reforms aimed at digitalising public administration in key areas such as justice, employment, social protection, environment, civil service management, skills development, public procurement, cybersecurity, tax, and customs. The plan also aims to establish a secure government cloud infrastructure and promote eID deployment. The digitalisation of public administration will cost €1.5 billion. Additionally, the plan involves digitalising healthcare with €470 million investments to develop an integrated e-Health system that connects over 25,000 healthcare providers and telemedicine systems. Furthermore, the plan includes investments of €881 million for digitalisation of education, with a focus on improving digital pedagogical skills, educational content, and equipment and resources, including in universities.

As an example project, the RRP will support delivery of electronic identity cards to 8.5 million Romanians. This e-ID card is part of a larger plan of investments and structural reforms aimed at expanding virtual access to essential services like healthcare and education. The goal is to enhance the storage and sharing of citizens’ information to facilitate a more personalised and effective interaction with public institutions.

Increasing digital competences of public service and digital education for citizens reform aims to support the digitalisation of the economy and the transition to industry, by aligning the labour market to the latest developments in this sector. The reform refers to amending the Classifications of Occupations Code, including the definition of new digital occupations, in line with other EU countries.

National Funding

Funding schemes for libraries to become digital skills hubs aims to improve the fundamental digital skills of citizens residing in disadvantaged communities with limited access to training. The investment comprises of the transformation of 105 libraries into hubs for the development of digital skills, as well as additional funding for the replacement/upgrade of IT equipment in 1030 libraries. The investment will provide 100,000 citizens from disadvantaged communities with training in digital literacy, communication, media literacy, digital content creation, digital security, and digital entrepreneurship. The call for applications has been issued, and initiatives can be submitted until June 2026.

Modernisation of “Gheorghe Şincai” Bihor County Library into a digital skills hub consists of two components: the extension, renovation and endowment of the “Gheorghe Şincai” Bihor County Library, and its digitalisation. The project also includes the purchasing of 20 workstations for digital training and of high-performance equipment for scanning books. In addition, the project also provides for the extension, renovation and equipping of libraries in Sânmartin, Sântandrei and Oșorhei, which will be transformed into hubs for the development of digital skills. 26 libraries in Bihor County will also be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to train in basic digital skills the population from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The objective of the provision of facilities for pre-university classrooms and school laboratories/workshops is to provide the facilities necessary to meet quality standards in classrooms and in school laboratories/workshops, including the provision of specialised teaching facilities and equipment for disadvantaged pupils and students with special educational needs. The provision of classroom and laboratory facilities shall be decentralised among schools, county school inspectorates, and local public authorities. 75,000 classrooms and 10,000 school science laboratories are to be furnished.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Romania on this link.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of eSkills Malta Foundation.

Recovery and Resilience Plan

The Maltese Recovery and Resilience Plan accounts for a total of EUR 316.4 m allocated under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It devotes 25.5% (EUR 80.8 m) to the digital transition. The bulk of investments supported under the plan focuses on the digital transformation of the public administration, health and justice systems.

As a part of Fostering a digital, smart, and resilient economy (€55 million) Malta plans to deepen the digital transformation through policy reform, with a focus on reducing the digital divide and promoting digital skills. The Enhancing quality education and fostering socio-economic sustainability (€41 million) includes setting up of a Centre for Vocational Education Excellence (ITS Campus), strengthening skills development and recognition, and reinforcing the resilience of the labour market.

SME Digitalisation Grant scheme seeks to support digitalisation investment initiatives by SMEs in several economic sectors, as part of their digitalisation endeavours and when seeking to intensify the digitalisation of operations. This Scheme is demand driven and managed through an open rolling call, funded through RRF.

Digitalise your Micro Business incentive seeks to assist Micro Enterprises through non-repayable Grants to part-finance investment to digitalise their operations, and hence improve their resilience, efficiency, productivity and customer experience by addressing new digital capabilities and digitalised processes such as product and process design and engineering, end-to-end procurement, supply chain/distribution and after sales.

Digital Intensification Grant seeks to support digitalisation investment initiatives by eligible enterprises, in eligible sectors, as part of their digitalisation endeavours and intensify the digitalisation of operations.  The investment support enterprises, with a specific focus to those in the manufacturing and tourism industries, through investments in digital technologies and related processes in the enterprise, in particular hardware, software and other digital solutions to improve their efficiency, productivity and customer experience. The focus is on the investment in new digital technologies that will encourage the growth of the business.

National Funding

FONDI.eu is main website dedicated to EU funding opportunities making it easier for citizens and organisations to reap the benefits of EU membership through EU funds. FONDI.eu provides timetable of all calls launching, information about different schemes and grants available to individuals, SMEs, businesses and institutions.

Business Re-Engineering and Transformation Scheme is supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to realign their business activity, restructure their employees, product and / or service portfolio, optimise the use of technology and embrace green technology and practices.

Jobsplus offers courses aimed at helping individuals acquire transversal or specific skills which are labour market related. Different types of courses are available, varying from short courses to vocational courses pegged to the Maltese and European Qualification Frameworks.

Average Wage Earner Scheme aims to assist employed and self-employed persons attending one of Jobsplus courses and whose weekly wage does not exceed €300 (basic) per week. Jobsplus offers training courses in various areas including literacy and numeracy, computing, trade, technical, accounting, clerical work and care services. Employed individuals following these courses can benefit from a financial grant of €25 per week provided that they attend a minimum of four hours of training per week. Payment is based on the hours an individual attends and the duration of the course and given upon successfully completing the whole course.

The Training Pays Scheme is part of the Training for Employment Project and it aims to assist individuals to develop and/or improve their skills by participating in further off-the-job training. The scheme offers assistance in the form of a refund to aid participants with costs relating to training. This refund is awarded to the participant after successful completion of his/her training.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Malta on this link.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Greek National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and resilience facility

Greece’s recovery and resilience plan supports the digital transition with investments and reforms in the digitalisation of public administration and private sector companies, in connectivity, and in digital skills. It will invest €160 million for the development of 5G networks, €1.3 billion in the digital transformation of the public sector and another €375 million for the digitalisation of businesses, promoting the integration of digital technologies in SMEs. Furthermore, the plan will invest more than €500 million to promote the digital transformation of the education and health system, while nearly €750 million will be invested in digital upskilling. In 2022, several measures to modernise and digitalise the public sector are launched, e.g., projects to digitalise archives and related services (EUR 598 million); developing interoperability and web services; and modernising the public administration’s, reform to deliver on the cybersecurity strategy for the public sector and measures to improve connectivity.

Digital Transformation of SMEs introduces a support scheme that supplies vouchers to SMEs which can be used for the purchase of digital technologies and related services. Via an online platform, SMEs can easily apply for support and select a digitalisation solution that fits their needs. The project also includes advisory support for developing new digitalisation solutions. Upon completion, the project is expected to provide digitalisation support to at least 100,000 SMEs via the voucher scheme and help at least 1,000 SMEs to develop new digital solutions.

More than 500,000 students, ages 4 to 24, from low-income families and more than 150,000 teachers of primary and secondary institutions were provided with a voucher of EUR 200 towards the purchase of a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. The measure “Vouchers to students for laptops and other IT stuff” targeted low-income individuals while promoting the digital transformation of the education system. During the pandemic, when schools were closed and lessons were delivered exclusively online and required the use of an IT device, the initiative facilitated access to e-learning.

In 2023, training programmes for unemployed and private sector employees seek to train an additional 150,000 private sector employees, including SME employees, in digital, environmental, and financial literacy. Training providers belong to both the public and private sectors and satisfy certain quality assurance criteria. Combined with a reform of the national lifelong learning system, the investment improved the delivery model of upskilling and reskilling programmes, as well as the skills intelligence tools used to forecast skills needs, which enhanced the system’s ability to provide high-quality and labour market-relevant training to those who require it. More information.

National Funding

The program for acquiring and upgrading the skills of the unemployed is implemented within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0” by Public Employment Service. The objective of the action is the qualitative upgrading of the knowledge and skills of the unemployed through professional training programs that meet the needs of the economy, in order to strengthen their employability and achieve their work reintegration more quickly. Trainees attend a training program and after its completion participate in certification exams. Each beneficiary who obtains the certification is entitled to receive an allowance of 5 euros per hour of training, so for a program of 200 hours it reaches 1,000 euros.

EPICENTRE, a project funded by the European Union through the European Innovation and SMEs Executive Agency (EISEMA), has opened a call for funding to support SMEs and start-ups in the development of innovative cross-sectoral/cross-border value chains in following sectors: ICT, financial technology, health and agri-food products.
Other funding options

The DiGiYouth Initiative, a Microsoft partnership with ReGeneration, offers unique training and employment opportunities for young and new graduates to reduce youth unemployment. It started in 2020 as part of Microsoft’s GR for Growth Initiative and the company’s broader commitment to educating 100,000 people, including students, graduates, unemployed and public and private sector professionals,  the DiGiYouth Initiative is now in its third year and has expanded with three new intensive training programs through innovative academies with a focus on digital transformation. The new cycle of the DiGiYouth Initiative includes:

• ReGeneration Academy on Technical Business Analysis 4 Women, an intensive program aimed at strengthening the female presence in the field of Technology,
• ReGeneration Academy on CyberSecurity & DevOps Engineering, an innovative academy specializing in network security
• ReGeneration Academy on Cloud Tools & Technology vol. 4, offering access to unique Microsoft digital tools

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Greece on this link.

Introduction

In the 2024 edition of the Digital Decade report, Ireland has achieved 72,9% basic digital skills coverage, compared to the EU average of 55.6%. This puts Ireland at 91,1% of the overall target for the EU 2030 goal, which aims to have 80% of the EU population possess at least basic digital skills. The country has seen an annual growth of 1,7% from the previous year.

According to the Digital Decade report 2024, Ireland performs better than the EU average in both digital skills indicators. The percentage of ICT specialists in employment has reached 6,2% surpassing the EU average – 4.8%.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has published in May 2022 AI Skills A Preliminary Assessment of the Skills Needed for the Deployment, Management and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence identifying different levels of skill necessary for the adoption of AI.

Towards a digital society The 2022 Accenture Digital Index reveals positives and pitfalls in digital interactions that have accelerated since the start of the pandemic.  It examines the state of the digital divide in Ireland – the gap between the digitally engaged and disengaged – and reveals that long-standing issues around the ‘haves and have nots’ in an emerging digital society have become more nuanced. Frequency of activity has increased with 76% of people browsing the internet on a daily basis compared to 70% in the last survey; social media was up from 58% to 63%; online banking was up from 22% to 28%.

Mobile phones are used by 95% of survey respondents and loaded with apps that make light work of shopping, banking, messaging, and streaming entertainment. Computers, which are better suited to document creation and writing CVs, are the least used devices among the economically disadvantaged – with only 39% of people in lower socioeconomic cohorts using daily, compared with 61% in higher socioeconomic cohorts.

A quarter of respondents are not comfortable creating and editing documents, around the same as in the last survey. And just over a quarter (28%) are struggling to update CVs and use websites for job searches. Around a third of people (35%) don’t see a need to improve their digital skills, almost identical to the earlier survey (34%); and around a quarter say there is nothing that would motivate them to get better.

The Irish Coalition of Digital Skills and Jobs is an association-led, multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together 50 partners from academia and education, industry, the public, and not-for-profit sector. The primary objectives of the Coalition are to strengthen the workforce and enhance the digital inclusion of all citizens, with a special focus on the digital skills of younger adults in the context of a modernised education system. Under a Steering Committee, the partners set several priorities, such as promoting a modern approach to teaching, upskilling the labour force, promoting professions in the information and communication technology sector (ICT) as a career choice, identifying obstacles to developing digital skills, as well as raising public and employers’ awareness of digital upskilling.

Overview of state strategies and national initiatives

State strategies

Irish government launched in February 2022 the National Digital Strategy, ‘Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework’. The strategy supports Ireland’s goal of becoming a leader in European and global digital developments, while also placing a strong emphasis on inclusiveness, (cyber)security and safety. The strategy is covering four dimensions: digital transformation of business, digital infrastructure, skills, and digitalisation of public services. It is also aligned with national priorities, under Ireland’s 2021 Economic Recovery Plan and Ireland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. In December 2022 Progress Report on ‘Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework’ was published, stating that progress has been made across all of the Strategy’s dimensions.

To respond to the digitalisation needs, Ireland continues its action to boost digital skills across the entire education system: schools, further education and training, higher education, and lifelong learning in general. This primarily encompasses: the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027; 2022- 2026 STEM Education Policy;  Technology 2022 Ireland’s Third ICT Action Plan; 2021-2025 Action Plan for Apprenticeship;  Skillnet Ireland Programmes; and eCollege, the online learning platform, which offers free online courses in areas such as computer programming, web and graphic design. The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 with strong focus on further embedding the use of digital technologies in all teaching, learning and assessment activities including the further development of digital skills and building awareness and knowledge around the safe and ethical use of the internet. This will be achieved by (i) the ongoing investment to improve the provision of digital infrastructure, connectivity and digital equipment in schools, (ii) the continued provision of high quality digital content for use by teachers in the classroom, (iii) supporting schools and school leaders to further embed effective digital capacity planning and development, and (iv) enhancing key skills development of teachers to ensure a digitally competent and confident teaching workforce which in turn will support the development of digital literacy skills in student population.

National initiatives

Ireland continues to implement the National Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy ‘Future FET: Transforming Learning’ 2020-2024, which sets out a series of reforms within the FET sector to improve the existing capacity in the area of digital inclusion and the provision of digital skills. A wide variety of training programmes to boost digital skills in FET are provided by Education and Training Boards and offered through SOLAS’s Skills to Advance (upskilling while in employment) and Skills to Compete (labour market activation) initiatives.

32% of Ireland’s RRP is dedicated to accelerating and expanding the country’s digital transformation. The plan envisages support to human capital development by providing high-speed broadband connectivity for primary schools and by funding the access to ICT infrastructure for schools. The plan also includes a reform project encompassing four measures designed to support the digital transformation of education in Ireland at all levels (school, tertiary, lifelong learning): (i) a new Digital Strategy for Schools; (ii) a new 10-year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy; (iii) a measure to increase by 65% the number of graduates with high-level ICT skills; and (iv) a measure enabling further and higher education institutions to provide more than 20 000 laptops to disadvantaged students. These projects complement each other, mainstream essential digital skills and are aimed at addressing the digital divide and enhancing digital skills overall.

Addressing the digital divide and enhancing digital skills reform aims to support the digital transformation of education and training at all levels (schools, third level, lifelong learning), mainstream essential digital skills across all settings, and address the risk of a digital divide. The reform consists of the publication of a Digital Strategy for Schools 2021-2027, the publication of a 10 Year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy to help individuals build their digital skills, an increase in the number of graduates with high level ICT skills, and also facilitated access to ICT devices by enabling education institutions to provide laptops to disadvantaged students.

National Grand Challenges Programme Fund is a €65 million research fund, funded by grants from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, that aims at developing solutions to key challenges in the areas of Green Transition and Digital Transformation. The fund is coordinated and administered by Science Foundation Ireland. This is a prestigious, high-profile research initiative of national importance that will fund 90 research teams to direct research activity towards pressing societal and economic problems. The National Challenge Fund encourages collaboration between the academic research community, government departments, agencies, enterprises, and societal stakeholders to identify challenges and enable action to address the green and digital transitions.

The Irish Recovery and Resilience Plan provides EUR 67 million in Programme to provide digital infrastructure and funding to schools to ensure that primary and post-primary school pupils are equipped with appropriate digital skills. The provision of internet to schools across the country is key to ensuring a fair digital transition. This project will benefit communities across Ireland and is directly related to the next generation. The investment will provide high-speed broadband connectivity through the installation of routers in at least 990 primary schools. The provision of high-speed connectivity for all schools will provide the basis for early development of digital skills, and enable young people to become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens to participate fully in society and the economy. The investment will also support schools by providing digital devices and software to disadvantaged students. The first EUR 50 million funding to primary and post-primary schools to address the digital divide was issued in December 2021. Implementation of the whole measure is expected by 30 September 2023.

A new Government Data Centre to facilitate a more environmentally-efficient use of technology across Government will benefit from EUR 40 million in grant funding. The objective of the Government data centre is to deliver high-quality data centre facilities which are fit for purpose and are capable of meeting the Government’s requirements now and in the future. The new dedicated data centre facility would be at least twice as efficient as most of the existing public service server rooms and data centre facilities. The shared Government data centre will be developed at the Backweston Campus and shall function in a more environmentally friendly manner, including the possibility of reusing the data centre’s waste heat for other buildings on the campus. The data processing shall result in demonstrated substantial life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions savings. Implementation of the whole measure is expected by 31 December 2025.

Funding opportunities

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Irish National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition and in the article on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.

Introduction

In the 2024 edition of the Digital Decade report, Greece has achieved 52.4% basic digital skills coverage, compared to the EU average of 55.6%. The score is under the EU average, and slightly below the 2023 results (52,5%).

According to the Digital Decade Report 2024, Greece performs slightly below the EU average in both digital skills indicators. The percentage of ICT specialists in employment has declined from 2,5% in 2023 to 2,4% in 2024, below the EU average of 4,8%.

Microsoft’s Digital Futures Index in 2022 measured the digitalization level of 16 European countries, including Greece. The Index brings data about the level of digitalization of the country and detects the most successful areas, but also the areas where there is more work to be done to accelerate the digital transformation process. Digitalization is perceived through 5 categories of digital development: Digital Business, Digital Government and Public Sector, Digital Infrastructure, Digital Sector, and Human Capital. The overall level of Greece’s digital development score is 81, which is 17% below the CEE average. Compared to the Central and Eastern European countries, Greece is ranked below average in Digital Business, Digital Government and Public Sector, Digital Infrastructure, Digital Sector but above average in Human capital, 96.94 compared to 100.

The Greek National Coalition for Digital Skills and Jobs is a platform for collaboration between public and non-public entities that strive to advance digital skills in Greek society. Goals of the National Coalition are cooperation between all stakeholders to implement measures with the objective of enhancing digital skills, resolve the digital divide in all sectors of the Greek economy and society and to disseminate EU digital skills policies in Greece.

Overview of state strategies and national initiatives

State strategies

The Digital Transformation Bible is the main strategic document, which sets priorities for the digital transformation of Greece in period 2020 – 2025. It outlines the guiding principles, strategic axes, and interventions on a horizontal and vertical level that aim to enhance and support the digital transformation of Greek society and economy. It sets out the strategic roadmap for Greece’s digital transformation over the next 5 years. The strategy covers six pillars: (i) connectivity; (ii) digital skills; (iii) digital state; (iv) digital business; (v) digital innovation; and (vi) integration of digital technology in every sector of the economy. As upskilling goals it states digital Investment in the human resources, national portal for digital capabilities and Dissemination of initiatives on digital skills in Greece, which are aligned to latest EU policies.

Digital Transformation Program (PPsiMet) 2021-2027 which is financed by the ERDF and EKT+, contributes to the vision for Digital Greece and to the promotion of the economic transformation of the country through: The provision of new and upgraded public digital services and applications to businesses and citizens, ensuring the interoperability of digital systems and services, development of digital platforms to support business activity, digital transformation of local government, Ensuring ultra-high speed  connectivity, meeting the needs in digital skills and integration of cutting-edge technologies. The 2021-2027 PPSiMet Budget amounts to €943,004,309.

National initiatives

Greece’s recovery and resilience plan supports the digital transition with investments and reforms in the digitalisation of public administration and private sector companies, in connectivity, and in digital skills. It will invest €160 million for the development of 5G networks, €1.3 billion in the digital transformation of the public sector and another €375 million for the digitalisation of businesses, promoting the integration of digital technologies in SMEs. Furthermore, the plan will invest more than €500 million to promote the digital transformation of the education and health system, while nearly €750 million will be invested in digital upskilling. In 2022, several measures to modernise and digitalise the public sector are launched, e.g., projects to digitalise archives and related services (EUR 598 million); developing interoperability and web services; and modernising the public administration’s, reform to deliver on the cybersecurity strategy for the public sector and measures to improve connectivity.

Digital Transformation of SMEs introduces a support scheme that supplies vouchers to SMEs which can be used for the purchase of digital technologies and related services. Via an online platform, SMEs can easily apply for support and select a digitalisation solution that fits their needs. The project also includes advisory support for developing new digitalisation solutions. Upon completion, the project is expected to provide digitalisation support to at least 100,000 SMEs via the voucher scheme and help at least 1,000 SMEs to develop new digital solutions.

More than 500,000 students, ages 4 to 24, from low-income families and more than 150,000 teachers of primary and secondary institutions were provided with a voucher of EUR 200 towards the purchase of a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. The measure “Vouchers to students for laptops and other IT stuff” targeted low-income individuals while promoting the digital transformation of the education system. During the pandemic, when schools were closed and lessons were delivered exclusively online and required the use of an IT device, the initiative facilitated access to e-learning.

In 2023, training programmes for unemployed and private sector employees seek to train an additional 150,000 private sector employees, including SME employees, in digital, environmental, and financial literacy. Training providers belong to both the public and private sectors and satisfy certain quality assurance criteria. Combined with a reform of the national lifelong learning system, the investment improved the delivery model of upskilling and reskilling programmes, as well as the skills intelligence tools used to forecast skills needs, which enhanced the system’s ability to provide high-quality and labour market-relevant training to those who require it. More information.

Funding opportunities

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Greek National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition and in the article on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.

Digital literacy is a cornerstone of modern life, including the ability to use digital technologies effectively and responsibly. In today’s digital age, this proficiency is advantageous and indispensable for personal growth, professional development and active participation in the global economy. At its core, digital literacy empowers individuals to harness the vast potential of the digital world. It helps to equip them with the skills to access information quickly, communicate seamlessly over distances, and engage meaningfully in online platforms. These competences are increasingly vital in the contemporary workforce, where digital skills are often prerequisites for employment in various sectors.

Digital literacy & education: a dynamic interplay of key concepts

Integrating digital literacy is very important in educational settings. Schools and universities increasingly adopt digital learning platforms, virtual classrooms and online resources to improve learning experiences. Educators are exploiting digital tools to cultivate interactive learning environments addressing different learning styles and capacities. Early exposure to coding and computational thinking prepares students for future technological challenges. It fosters critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. The availability of resources to improve digital literacy has grown significantly. Online courses, tutorials, and workshops offer accessible avenues for individuals to acquire and refine digital skills at their own pace.

Libraries and community centres also play central roles by providing digital literacy programmes that cater for different age groups and skill levels. In addition, certification programmes such as Microsoft’s Digital Literacy curriculum validate proficiency in digital competences, and enhance employability and career advancement prospects. A crucial aspect of digital literacy is understanding digital ethics and responsibility. These include safeguarding online privacy, practising secure online behaviour, and critically evaluating the credibility of digital information. Digital citizenship, which promotes the responsible use of technology, is integral to fostering a respectful and secure online environment. Despite the steps taken in digital literacy, challenges to bridge the digital divide persist. Access to digital technologies and resources remains unequal across populations, with unserved communities often lacking access to affordable internet and necessary digital equipment.

Bridging the literacy gap in digital: main strategies & approaches

Efforts to mitigate this gap include expanding internet infrastructure, distributing subsidised digital devices, and providing training programmes tailored to marginalised communities. Digital literacy enhances individual empowerment and strengthens communities by enabling wider participation in the digital economy and society. It supports lifelong learning, facilitates innovation, and fosters a culture of continuous adaptation to technological advances. As technology evolves rapidly, continued investment in digital literacy education is essential to equip future generations with the skills to thrive in a digitally driven world. In conclusion, by prioritising digital literacy and integrating digital skills into education systems, we pave the way for inclusive economic growth and societal connectivity. Empowering individuals with robust digital competences prepares them for success in the digital age. It contributes to building resilient, adaptable and globally interconnected communities.

As educators, policy makers, and stakeholders collaborate to advance digital literacy initiatives, they have central roles in shaping a future where everyone can participate equitably in the opportunities that digital innovation offers.

The International Day of Girls in ICT, observed every 4^th Thursday of April each year, highlights the urgent need for more young women and girls to join the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. This global initiative aims to reduce the gender gap in tech careers by encouraging girls to seek opportunities in this field. It stresses the importance of providing girls with the necessary skills and opportunities to ensure a future in ICT, thus contributing to a more diverse and inclusive technological landscape.

History of the International Day of Girls in ICT

The International Day of Girls in ICT has a significant place to recognise the importance of involving more young women and girls in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This day finds its origin in International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 in 2014. Its main aim is to inspire girls and young women globally to consider ICT studies and careers, a sector where historically women’s representation remains low. The genesis of this initiative can be traced back to the roots of computers and technology, notably to the invention of the Difference Engine’s Charles Babbage in 1822, which marked the beginning of computer programming.

Over the years, the technological landscape has undergone rapid evolution, particularly from the mid-20^th century to the beginning of the 21^st century. This period saw the emergence of fundamental computing technologies and the rise of tech giants such as INTEL, IBM, Apple and Microsoft. At the same time, it introduced portable computer equipment and witnessed the widespread adoption of mobile phones.

Celebrating the International Day of Girls in ICT 2024

On 25 April 2024, the eSkills Malta Foundation, in collaboration with Microsoft, National School Support Services, and Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills at the Secretariat for Catholic Education, organised an event at Microsoft Skyparks in Luqa, to celebrate the International Day of Girls in ICT.

The event aimed to highlight the importance of women’s leadership and participation in the ICT sector. Girls from the seventh year in Church and State Schools were invited to participate in a full day of activities and discussions centred on inspiring women leaders in technology. Women ambassadors, representing various sectors of the ICT industry, shared their personal journeys and knowledge about leadership roles within the field. Their stories served as inspiration for the young people who attended, showcasing the different career paths available in ICT and the potential for women to excel in leadership positions.

In addition to presentations and discussions, students had the opportunity to engage in practical activities, including building robots and competing in robotic races. These activities not only promoted technical skills but also encouraged teamwork and problem-solving—essential qualities for future ICT leaders.

We warmly appreciate our collaborators and educators for their invaluable support in organising this event. Reflecting on the successes of the day, we reconfirm our commitment to foster women’s leadership in ICT and empower the next generation of women to take on leadership roles within the industry. Together, we can break down barriers and create, a more inclusive and diverse ICT landscape that thrives on the contributions of all individuals, regardless of gender.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Danish National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and resilience facility

Project Fostering digitalisation and trade of Danish Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is part of the Danish Recovery and Resilience Plan. Through the new digital strategy, the SME digital support scheme is anticipated to help small and medium-sized businesses surmount barriers to investing in and utilising new and advanced technologies and e-commerce solutions. With a budget of € 8.7 million, the measure will support at least 550 small and medium-sized enterprises by the end of 2023 in an effort to scale up a successful programme.

The objective of the Bredbåndspuljen (Broadband Pool) investment is to prolong an existing scheme, which shall roll out very high-speed internet access (minimum 100 Mbps) in rural areas of Denmark where existing coverage is poor due to lack of sufficient market incentives. The scheme is a yearly applicant-based funding scheme for households and businesses, focusing on different issues and areas every year. The Recovery and Resilience Facility supports this investment with EUR 13 million (approximately DKK 97 million).

Purpose of the Europæisk digitaliserings- og innovationsknudepunkt project is to establish a European digitization and innovation hub in the Danish regions. The mission of the hub is to strengthen the digital transformation of businesses and the widespread adoption of digital technologies by providing customised services within specified technology and industry domains. The hubs are part of a European network that provides businesses access to other EU ecosystems and markets. The centre is comprised of partnerships between corporations, clusters, the Global Trade System, knowledge and research institutions, etc.

National Funding

Denmark has taken several specific vocational digital skills initiatives targeted at SMEs. Amongst these is a graduate program and a trainee program, which focuses on mitigating the challenges met by graduates in entering the labour market. An example is a project with project funds from the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment called Job in Games.

SMV:Digital is an offer for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), which are faced with having to start or upgrade their efforts in digitization. SME:Digital continuously opens offers where SMEs can apply for grants for private advice, investment in IT and technology or get help to develop owner’s or employees’ digital skills. It can be within e-commerce, automation, digital security – or something else entirely that enables company to boost growth and development.

Ministry of Education and Research is offering grants for research and innovation supported by Danish, EU and international grant programmes. Currently open calls are published on the dedicated Ministry’s webpage Tilskud til forskning og innovation.

The state’s adult education grant (SVU) is an educational grant that allows you to continue or advance your education while working. It includes different subjects on primary or secondary school level, as well as higher education programme. Among others it covers education at a higher level, which is offered in accordance with the Open Education Act.

Entrepreneur Denmark (Iværksætterdanmark) is aimed at the broad target group of entrepreneurs, which covers potential entrepreneurs and new entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Denmark is aimed at entrepreneurs who have an ambition to establish a healthy and viable business raising their professional competences and industry specific skills.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Denmark on this link.

Background information

In general terms, funding opportunities in Italy are issued by the central, regional, and local authorities through procurement. For bigger scale projects, forms of public-private partnership can be established to support the public authority in the evaluation and implementation of the projects / investment.

When it comes to digital skills and digital transformation, the lines of action are outlined in the National Strategy for Digital Skills, and related funding opportunities are channeled throughout EU schemes, the RRF and other National funding schemes.

Funding will be available to:

• Modernise schools’ digital infrastructures and services (in the bigger framework of the digital transformation of Public Administrations)
• Education and training of Public Administration Servants
• Development and improvement of basic digital skills for all citizens, including categories at risks – Digital Civil Service
• Uptake of advanced technologies by companies and up- and re-skilling trainings for workers through tax credits

The funds of the RRF can be combined with other form of European funds, such as the 2021-2027 Structural and Investment Funds and React-EU, as well the National Plan for Complementary Investments, the National Development and Cohesion Fund and other forms of partnership.

Recovery and resilience facility

The Italian Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has foreseen €40.29 bn for the mission “Digitalization, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism”. Provisions for digital skills were specifically embedded in the measures to support the digital transition and innovation of the Italian production system, through incentives for investments in cutting-edge and 4.0 technologies, RDI and 4.0 training activities (€ 13.4 billion).

Several portals are being established to centralize information and calls available.

• Information in English on the lines of action and their specific budget allocation can be found in the portal Italia Domani.

The same portal also collects all tendering opportunities and incentives available issued by central, regional and local authorities for the specific mission. Opportunities are open on a rolling basis or until funds run out. Beneficiaries of such funding are Public Administrations, businesses, including small and medium size enterprises and start-ups, and civil society organizations.

• A specific portal –Pa Digitale 2026– has been created for the digital transformation of Public Administrations, where information and access to funding is available upon registration of the PA with the digital identity (SPID).
• The Digital Civil Service was created for youth to access volunteering opportunities in projects with social impacts related to the digital transformation, including training on basic digital skills and digital inclusivity. The calls for projects starting in 2022 – 2023 are now closed, but a new round of call will be launched in the near future.
• Companies have access to different types of incentives and tax credits to support their digital transformation, including training activities for employees. Information is available on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development (recently renamed Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy).

National funding

The main instruments used by the National Government in support of the digital transition, and the uptake of digital skills to bridge the digital divide are the National Plan for Complementary Investments, and the Fund of Repubblica Digitale (Italian National Coalition for Digital Skills and Jobs)

National Plan for Complementary Investments: the Italian government integrates and enhances the contents of the PNRR through the Complementary National Plan (CNP) by allocating an additional 30.6 billion of national resources, available in addition to the grants and funds provided under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The programs that will be financed through this plan are digital services and citizenship, digital services and competences among others. The calls are open on a rolling basis and complement the RRF and Opportunities will be shown in the Italia Domani portal.

Fund for Repubblica Digitale: a public-Private Partnership between the Ministry of Digital Transition, Ministry of Economic Development, and the Association of Banking Foundations. The available resources for the period 2022 – 2026 are 350 million euros. The fund finances projects aiming at developing digital competences, bridge the digital divide among citizens and support the digital transformation of the country.

The first two calls for proposals will be open until the 16th of December and targets women and NEETS.

Repubblica Digitale: the Italian National Coalition for Digital Skills & Jobs. The initiatives, projects and opportunities offered by the members of the Coalition can be found here.

Other funding options

Recovery and Resilience Facility – Digitalization, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism:

• Mission overview
• Education and training of Public Administration Servants
• Development and improvement of basic digital skills for all citizens, including categories at risks – Digital Civil Service
• Uptake of advanced technologies by companies and up- and re-skilling trainings for workers – Transition4.0
• Italia Domani: portal tendering opportunities
• Pa Digitale 2026: portal for PAs to access finance for digital transformation
• Digital Civil Service: youth portal for volunteering opportunities in social activities that aim at fostering basic digital skills and reduce the digital divide
• Website of the Ministry of Economic Development: information and access to tax credits for businesses

National Funding

National Plan for Complementary Investments

Fund for Repubblica Digitale

Repubblica Digitale

Projects and opportunities from Repubblica Digitale members

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Cyprus National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and resilience facility

Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) has a total value of EUR 1.2 billion of which EUR 282 2 million is dedicated to the digital transition, which is 23% of total RRP allocation. The RRP measures will contribute to the digital transition of Cyprus with an emphasis on education (A new teacher and school evaluation system, including digital skills training for teachers), digital transformation of school units with the goal of enhancing digital skills and skills related to STEM education, as well as digital skills in general (National e-skills Action Plan and measures on Skilling, Reskilling, and Upskilling – digital skills).  Regarding Connectivity, the objective is to empower the National Regulatory Authority to improve building cabling to be “Gigabit-ready” in order to encourage connectivity adoption and improve very high capacity networks in underserved areas. There are investments in smart cities, smart and sustainable water management, smart metering infrastructure, and the development of a FinTech regulatory sandbox for the integration of digital technology. Regarding Digital public services, Cyprus is planning a number of reforms and investments in e-government, e-health, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) utilising Digital Twin technologies, cloud-based platforms, and e-justice.

Reforms in Employment, social protection, education and human resources will be supported by €172.9 from RRF, including €94 million for modernization of the educational system – upgrading and strengthening of skills. Modernization of the educational system will tackle skills mismatch between education (secondary and tertiary) and the labour market, support digital transformation of schools to strengthen digital skills and skills related to STEM education. New system for evaluating the educational work and teachers will be developed and free compulsory preschool education expanded. Investments are planned in technical schools and €15 million are dedicated to training in digital skills and skills related to the blue and green economy, entrepreneurship training for the unemployed and education for people over 55.

Calls for funding from Recovery and Resilience Facility are published on dedicated page of the Funding Programmes Portal.

National Funding

On the Funding programmes portal, managed by Ministry of Finance, different lines of funding are presented, like Competitive EU programmes, Co-financed EU programmes, Recovery and Resilience Plan, National Incentive Schemes and Financial tools.

National Incentive Plans are designed and approved at national level and are financed exclusively from national resources. The aim of these plans is to implement various political priorities of the Government, e.g. boosting employment, promoting tourism, etc. The implementation and management of the projects is done entirely in Cyprus by the relevant Ministries/bodies of the wider public sector.

The e-Gnosis Platform, of the Cyprus Productivity Center publish information about the training, as well as other important news and developments in the field of Vocational Education and Training. The Productivity Center of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, within the framework of the Digital Skills and E-Government Promotion from March 2022 till the end of 2025 organizes free digital skills training programs. Available categories include:

• Digital Skills for people aged 55 and over
• Digital Skills for all
• Managerial Development
• Technical Vocational Training
• Safety and Health
• Europass workshops
• Mediterranean Institute of Management

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Cyprus on this link.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Austrian Recovery and Resilience website, the Digital Austria web.

Recovery and resilience facility

Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan has a digital share of 52.8% (EUR 1.8 billion). The plan will contribute to Austria’s digital transition in several areas.

• Investments within the ‘Digital recovery’ and ‘Knowledge-based recovery’ subcomponents address digital skills. These initiatives emphasise the digitization of education and reskilling and upskilling. For instance, the RRP allocated 172 million euros for the provision of personal IT equipment to all secondary school students.
• Supporting the widespread deployment of gigabit-capable access networks addresses connectivity. The plan intends for 50% of Austrian households to have an internet speed capacity of 100 Mbits/s. EUR 891 million are planned to be allocated to fulfil this objective.
• To promote innovative research, particularly quantum computation, the plan allocates 107 million euros to support digital infrastructures and international research collaboration.
• In addition, the Digitalisation Fund is contributing 160 million euros to the digitalisation of the public sector. By financing projects with a cross-departmental impact, this will help accelerate the digitalization of the federal government.

Two measures to support the digital transformation of enterprises and SMEs are part of the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan. Under the first measure, businesses that invest in the digitalisation of business models, processes, and cybersecurity measures are eligible for an investment premium. Until 2025, at least 7,000 businesses are anticipated to receive a total of 69 million euros in funding. The SME-specific measure comprises of two support programmes: (i) KMU.DIGITAL, which provides advisory and implementation support for digitalisation projects, and (ii) the e-commerce-specific KMU.E-Commerce programme. The total budget available for the two programmes is 32 million euros. Additionally, six Digital Innovation Hubs with distinct geographical and thematic foci have been established throughout Austria. They will be supplemented by European Digital Innovation Hubs in response to a current call for proposals.

National Funding

Businesses are also encouraged to provide ICT training, particularly SMEs. A federal support programme with a budget of EUR 2.6 million was launched to develop employee’s competencies in IT management, cyber security, cloud services, and e-commerce. This ‘Qualifizierungsoffensive’ provides Digital Skills vouchers and ‘digital pro bootcamps’ where participants are trained for 4-weeks.

Through the initiative ’Digi Scheck‘, the Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy funds training courses for apprentices that strengthen their professional and cross-professional competencies  in future-oriented skills in the areas of digitization, climate protection, sustainability, energy and resource management and internationalization as part of dual training by means of grants. Up to EUR 500 per course with a maximum of three courses per year will be supported through public funding.

Several projects and activities in the STEM sector are scheduled between 2022 and 2024 in an effort to steer students and women towards ICT. In programmes related to ICT, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, the internet of things, and e-government, 3,700 new study spaces will be created. In addition, the academic year 2023/24 will see the establishment of Technische Universität für Digitalisierung und Digitale Transformation in Linz, a new technical university for digitalisation and digital transformation. Current news regarding TU DuDT are available on Linz News.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Austria on this link.

Introduction

In the 2024 edition of the Digital Decade report, Denmark has achieved 69,6% basic digital skills coverage, compared to the EU average of 55.6%. This puts Denmark at 87% of the overall target for the EU 2030 goal, which aims to have 80% of the EU population possessing at least basic digital skills. The country has seen an annual growth of 0,7% from the previous year. Despite the overall improvements Denmark is still showing important gender differences (only 22.6% of employed ICT specialists are women).

According to the Digital Decade report 2024, Denmark performs better than the EU average in both digital skills indicators. The percentage of ICT specialists in employment has surpassed the EU average, increasing from 5.7% to 5.9% (EU average – 4.8%).

Microsoft’s Digital Futures Index in 2022 measured the digitalization level of 16 European countries, including Denmark. The Index provides information about the country’s current state of digitalization and identifies the most successful areas, as well as those that require additional effort to accelerate the digital transformation process. Digitalization is perceived through 5 categories of digital development: Digital Business, Digital Government and Public Sector, Digital Infrastructure, Digital Sector, and Human Capital. The aggregate level of digital development in Denmark is 161, which is 61% above the average for CEE. Denmark ranks well above average in all categories, placing second overall, one point behind Finland.

The Danish Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition (DSJC Danmark – for digitale kompetencer og job) is a multi-stakeholder alliance dedicated to addressing the digital skills gap, promoting lifelong learning, and disseminating real-world practises and utilisation of products, services, and resources. Danish IT Society (Dansk IT) is coordinating the Coalition’s contributions, initiatives, activities, and projects. Members of the Coalition are representatives of academia and education sector, industry, public and not-for-profit sector with the mission to unite, strengthen and develop the skills and expertise of IT Users and IT Professionals in Denmark and to promote and support IT in areas where it creates value for the Danish society.

Overview of state strategies and national initiatives

State strategies

National Strategy for Digitalisation is presented by the Danish government in May 2022. Strategy for Digitalisation was created upon recommendations prepared by the Danish Government Digitisation Partnership in 2021. As one of the most digitally advanced nations in the world, Denmark excels at seizing digital opportunities. Answering the challenge to implement technological solutions broadly so that everyone can benefit. The government’s strategy for digitalisation encompasses both the public and private sectors. Visions embedded in the strategy are: Strengthened cyber and information security; Coherent service for people and businesses; More time for welfare through increased use of new technology; Increased growth and digital SMEs; The digital healthcare of the future; Acceleration of the green transition through digital solutions; A strong, ethical, and responsible digital foundation; Denmark at the centre of international digitalisation; and A population ready for a digital future.

Denmark’s Digital Growth Strategy 2025 was published in 2018 with the intention of fostering the growth of a community of highly skilled professionals. Improving the digital skills of children through technology education in primary and lower secondary schools, bridging the skills mismatch and providing relevant training and skills to support individuals’ development for the labour market, and enhancing access to skills trainings and programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises are the objectives for digital skills.

The current Joint Government Digital Strategy runs from 2022 until 2025, encompasses initiatives that address some of the most significant challenges confronting Danish society, such as labour shortage, climate change mitigation, and digital inclusion. The digital society must be accessible to everyone, and the public sector must ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity and capabilities to participate.

The National Strategy for Cyber and Information Security 2022-2024 focuses on ensuring secure ICT operations in government and critical infrastructure, as well as empowering citizens and businesses to navigate the digital realm securely. The strategy consolidates existing efforts through a variety of initiatives. The government has allocated a total of DKK 270 million (EUR 36 million) to 34 initiatives between 2022 and 2024 to implement the strategy and equip Denmark to fend off cyber threats.

The Danish National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence published in 2019 outlines how Denmark can be a leader in the responsible development and application of AI – to the benefit of individuals, enterprises, and society. Strategy focuses on common ethical and human-centred basis for AI, research and develop AI, achieving business growth through developing and using AI and the use AI to offer world-class public services.

National initiatives

Denmark’s Recovery and Resilience plan (RRP) devotes 27% of the total budget to the country’s digital transformation (approximately EUR 382 million). Priority is given to implementing the new digital strategy, extending high-speed rural broadband coverage, improving cybersecurity readiness and the use of AI, further digitalising SMEs and the public administration, with a particular attention to developing digital solutions for the healthcare sector, and boosting R&D. Under Cohesion Policy, an additional EUR 1.9 billion (9% of the country’s total cohesion policy funding) is allocated to the country’s digital transformation. Tax incentives will encourage Danish businesses to accelerate their digital investments, expand rural broadband coverage, and pursue the digitalization of healthcare. A programme for the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises will support the digitization efforts of lesser businesses. A new digital strategy will further digitalise the public sector and prepare the nation for future challenges in fields like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. In addition, the plan will encourage the development of solutions to retain and reuse personal data by public administrations and increase the proportion of public innovation fostered by public-private partnerships.

ReDI School of Digital Integration is a non-profit coding school for locals and newcomers without access to digital education, with several locations in Germany, Denmark and Sweden.  The tech school was founded on the belief that every person has the right (and should have the opportunity) to realize their maximum potential. Simultaneously, the school combats stereotypes about newcomers to Europe, assisting them in building, transferring, and expanding their qualifications and skills in the digital economy and assisting them in obtaining employment in EU tech start-ups.

Since 2015, the Agency for Digital Government has facilitated a nationwide Network for Digital Inclusion whose main objective is supporting and enhancing digitally challenged residents’ possibilities of participating in the digital society.

The Danish Government Digital Academy was established to provide civil servants with the skills and tools necessary to manage in a public administration that is increasingly digital.

Funding opportunities

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Danish National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition and in the article on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.

Introduction

In the 2024 edition of the Digital Decade report, Austria has achieved 64.7% basic digital skills coverage, compared to the EU average of 55.6%. This puts Austria at 80.9% of the overall target for the EU 2030 goal, which aims to have 80% of the EU population possessing at least basic digital skills. The country has seen an annual growth of 1.1% from the previous year. Austria has implemented specific measures to explicitly focus on improving the gender balance by increasing the basic and intermediate digital skills of girls and women.

According to the Digital Decade report 2024, Austria performs better than the EU average in both digital skills indicators. The percentage of ICT specialists in employment has surpassed the EU average, increasing from 5% to 5.3% (EU average – 4.8%).

fit4internet conducted the first representative survey, the Digital Skills Barometer, to measure digital skills in Austria based on the DigComp 2.2 AT with self-assessment and knowledge-based questions. The survey was conducted in April and May 2022 with a sample stratified by gender, age, and province among almost 4,000 people living in Austria. The results of the Digital Skills Barometer provide a detailed picture of the Austrian population’s digital knowledge for the first time. The Austrian population scored between 40.8% and 43.3% on average for the knowledge-based questions. More than half of the people surveyed are only at competence level 1, which means they score just under 20% of 100% on the knowledge-based test. One fifth of the respondents achieve up to 40% (competence level 2).

The Austrian Digital Skills Initiative (“Digitale Kompetenzoffensive” or short DKO), which acts as the national coalition for digital skills and jobs, was established in 2022 consists of a collaborative effort led by the Austrian Federal Chancellery and four federal ministries, the Ministries for Finance, Labour and Economy,  Education, Science and Research, and Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport.

Overview of state strategies and national initiatives

State strategies

“Digital Austria” initiative sets out a vision and the values for a digitally responsible society. Digital Action Plan Austria (Digitalen Aktionsplan Austria) is developed in a broad expert and stakeholder process, continuously expanded and consistently implemented, creating new growth, new jobs and new opportunities for everyone in Austria. Goals of Digital Action Plan are: make “System Austria” crisis-proof, increase competitiveness, position Austria as a digital innovation region; targeted use of data for innovations; design education, training, further training as a digital competitive advantage; targeted promotion of cutting-edge digital research; facilitate digital communication between the state and citizens.

In September 2021, Austrian government published the strategy “2030 Artificial Intelligence Mission Austria (AIM AT 2030)”, that can help to prepare the ground for Austria’s contribution to achieve the Digital Decade target of 75% of European enterprises using artificial intelligence. ‘AIM AT 2030’ pursues three objectives: broad use of AI oriented towards the common good, position Austria as a research and innovation location for AI and ensure its competitiveness by the development and use of AI. Strategy is also strongly focussed on developing ‘AI for green’ with implementation within two fields of action: “Trustworthy AI,” which includes the creation of AI standards and a legal framework; and “Create Ecosystems,” which integrates AI into education and training, technology transfer between universities, research institutes, and enterprises, and financing for enterprises that will cover the entire innovation cycle.

National initiatives

The Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan allocates 36% to digital transformation (EUR 1.3 billion), with priorities given to gigabit connectivity and digital skills. Under cohesion policy, an additional EUR 80 million (7% of the country’s total cohesion policy funding) is allocated to the country’s digital transformation.

Fair and equal access of pupils to basic digital competence reform will establish the framework conditions and provide supporting measures to enable fair and equal access for all lower-secondary-schools pupils to basic digital competences. It includes in-service training for teachers to improve their digital teaching abilities, as well as a number of supporting actions that facilitate digitization in schools.  This reform will assist in enhancing the infrastructure of the various school structures in order to maximise the use of the digital devices provided to students. In addition, the reform will provide digital solutions to facilitate pedagogical and administrative exchanges via a portal that consolidates all education and administration applications. With the entry into force of the “School Digitalization Act” in 2021, the implementation of the reform is well underway and shall be completed by mid-2025.

The “Broadband Austria 2030” is the largest single investment in Austria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan.  EUR 891 million will be spent on widespread availability of very high-capacity broadband networks, of up to a Gigabit per second, to benefit, among the others, public institutions and enterprises placed in rural regions and areas with unique socio-economic drivers. The final goal of providing at least 50 percent of all households with broadband access by the end of the third quarter of 2026 is being steadily approached.

Starting from school year 2022/2023 subject digital basic education (Digitale Grundbildung) is compulsory for all students in 5th to 8th grade. This subject cover, amongst others, media literacy, information processing skills, handling of personal information, and data protection.

Through the initiative “Digi Scheck“, the Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy funds training courses for apprentices that strengthen their professional and cross-professional competencies in future-oriented skills in the areas of digitization, climate protection, sustainability, energy and resource management and internationalization as part of dual training by means of grants. Up to EUR 500 per course with a maximum of three courses per year will be supported through public funding.

Digitale kompetenzoffensive für Österreich (Digital Skills Offensive) implementation started in February 2023. It encompasses the quality-assured teaching of digital basic skills in the population or in various domains of action, such as ICT experts, in education, among citizens, in the business world, or in the public sector. The goal is to teach everyone digital skills based on Austrian competence model for digital competences “DigComp 2.3 AT“. The cross-departmental digital skills offensive ensures that forces are consolidated, and that citizens’ digital skills are enhanced in a coordinated strategy, making Austrians digitally fit by 2030.

Funding opportunities

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026 most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of Austrian Recovery and Resilience website, the Digital Austria web and in the article on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are transformative technologies that have revolutionised the way we interact with digital content and environments. With digitalisation advancing at a pace unseen before, AR and VR are gaining more traction too. Yet, a significant proportion of the public still fails to understand the impact of these technologies that can be felt in daily interactions and social and work life.

AR vs VR: noting down the basics

AR connects digital information to the real world, improving our perception and interaction with our surroundings. In contrast, VR immerses users in completely virtual environments, creating immersive experiences that can simulate real or imagined worlds. These technologies have drawn significant attention in various industries, offering unique applications and promising career opportunities for digital enthusiasts.

Career Applications and Opportunities in AR/VR

AR and VR technologies have a wide range of applications, and are fast transforming sectors such as gaming, education, healthcare, retail, and architecture. In games, VR provides players with immersive experiences that take them to the heart of the digital worlds, offering unparalleled engagement and interaction. Games like Beat Saber and Half-Life: Alyx are key examples of VR’s potential to create captivating gaming experiences. Meanwhile, AR has revolutionised games with applications such as Pokémon GO, which blend digital characters with real-world environments. In education, AR and VR offer innovative ways to engage students and improve learning. VR can transport students to historical sites, inside the human body, or to distant planets, making learning interactive and impactful.

AR, on the other hand, can bring textbooks to life by ending digital information, 3D models, and animations on physical pages, and providing an enriched learning experience. The healthcare industry also benefits significantly from AR and VR technologies. VR simulations are used for surgical training, allowing surgeons to practice procedures in a risk-free virtual environment. This training can improve the patient’s surgical skills and results. AR assists surgeons during current procedures by finishing critical information, such as the patient’s genitals and 3D anatomy visualizations, directly onto their field of view, improving accuracy and efficiency. In retail, AR enhances the shopping experience by allowing customers to speed up products in their own space before making a purchase. Applications such as IKEA Place allow users to put furniture practically in their homes to see how it fits and looks.

VR, on the other hand, can create immersive virtual shops where customers can browse and shop from the comfort of their homes. Architecture and real estate are also transformed by AR and VR. Architects use VR to walk clients through virtual building models, providing a sense of scale and space before construction starts. AR can end up design elements on physical spaces, helping architects and clients make informed design and modification decisions. Career opportunities in AR and VR are expanding rapidly, reflecting the growing demand for skilled professionals in this growing field. Roles include AR/VR developers, designers, content creators, and specialists in space computing. These professionals work on creating and optimising immersive experiences, ensuring that AR and VR applications are both functional and demanding.

Skills and Tools Required for the Development of AR/VR Content

The development of AR and VR content requires a combination of technical skills and creativity. Proficiency in programming languages such as C#, C++, or UnityScript is essential for the development of VR applications. Familiarity with frameworks such as Unity or Unreal Engine is crucial for content creation, as these platforms provide the necessary tools to build and optimise AR and VR experiences. Designers need skills in 3D modelling, animation and spatial design to create realistic and immersive environments. Understanding the UX/UI principles is also important to ensure that user interfaces within these virtual worlds are intuitive and user-friendly.

Imagining a future that’s bright

In summary, AR and VR technologies offer exciting prospects for innovation in a variety of industries, from improving consumer experiences to a training and simulation revolution. As these technologies continue to evolve, acquiring the necessary skills and tools will be crucial for professionals aiming to thrive in the dynamic and expanding AR/VR landscape. The future holds immense potential for AR and VR, which promises to further integrate the digital and physical worlds and transform how we live, work and play.

The 2024 European Digital Skills Awards wrapped up last week with an official ceremony announcing the winners. Five projects from around Europe bring back the trophy for best practices in the five awards categories.

Discover the winners of the European Digital Skills Awards 2024!

But who had the challenging task of selecting the winners? The Digital Skills and Jobs Platform team began by pre-evaluating 267 applications based on published criteria: impact, sustainability and scalability, inclusion and accessibility, innovation and originality. They also assessed the clarity of the presentations and the effectiveness of outreach and communication efforts—after all, a great project needs to reach its target audience to make a difference.

From these applications, 25 finalists were chosen across the five award categories. The jury then faced the difficult task of selecting the winners. Despite the high quality and diverse projects, the final decisions were clear during the concluding meeting.

Let’s celebrate all the finalists’ projects of EDSA24!

Meet the Jury

Anu Passi-Rauste, HeadAI

Anu is Chief Business Officer HeadAI, with 20 years’ experience in edtech business and learning solutions. She is responsible for building the market intelligence, business growth, customer success and scaling sales. Anu is deeply inspired and involved in Artificial Intelligence for talent growth and learning – to build a sustainable future ecosystem for skills and work.

Aiga Irmeja, Latvian IT Cluster/Digital Innovation Hub

Aiga is Executive Director at Latvian IT Cluster/Digital Innovation Hub, with 20 years of experience in marketing or administrative roles in the IT industry. She has made a strategic commitment towards the organization’s shift to become an industry digitalization hub and European Digital Innovation Hub, as well as a core stakeholder in National digitalization initiatives and an expert in SME digital transformation initiatives.

Andrei Kelemen, Cluj IT Cluster

Andrei is CEO Cluj IT Cluster Co-founder and Head of Internationalization DIH4Society. Cluj IT is a cluster based organization formed of active organizations in the information technology field. Andrei has held various management positions in private and public sectors, managing projects. He has lead the Information Compartment in an EU structural funds management structure of the Ministry of Labor.

Mads Ronald Dahl, MSc, PhD, MI, Special Consultant Aarhus University

Mads Ronald Dahl is an educational developer at Aarhus University, recognized for his contributions to digital education. With a focus on integrating relevant technology into teaching, learning, and assessment, blending traditional educational principles with contemporary digital advancements. Mads has become a voice in advancing European educational framework, advocating for technology-supported learning environments.

Esther Murphy, DigiAcademy and Digi-ID programme Trinity College Dublin: School of Engineering

Dr. Esther Murphy is Principal Investigator for research projects focusing on digital inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities based at School of Engineering’s Robotics and Innovation Lab at the Trinity College Dublin. She is also founder of the DigiAcademy, winner of the European Digital Skills Awards 2023. Esther has 15 years experience in social science, disability health and inclusive technology research, teaching and practice in academia and non-governmental sectors.

Enjoy this picture of Aiga and Anu at the European Digital Skills Awards 2024! 

Check out all the pictures from the event on the @DigitalSkillsEU Facebook page.

Background information

Funding opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to support the digital competences of individuals and organizations are available in form of loans, grants and financial instruments. For the period 2021 – 2026, most of the activities in digital transformation are financed through Recovery and Resilience facility but also as activities in Horizon, Erasmus+, ESIF and EEA grant schemes. You may find more on the page of the Lithuanian National Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Recovery and resilience facility

The Recovery and resilience plan of Lithuania supports the digital transition with reforms and investments totalling €73 million in connectivity to advance the implementation of very high-capacity networks, such as 5G and fibre infrastructure, in rural and remote areas. The plan also includes substantial reforms and investments to digitalize the public sector (€117 million), promote digital literacy among students, employees, civil servants, and senior citizens, and address the labour market shortage of IT professionals. In addition, the plan includes reforms and investments in the private sector’s adoption of advanced digital technologies, particularly in the areas of science-business cooperation for innovative technologies and the digitalization of the cultural sector. In particular, the plan invests 117 million euros in the development of innovative tools, including those tailored to the Lithuanian language, enabling universal access to digital resources and allowing scientific and business communities to develop innovative technologies, services, and products.

KURSUOK is a national one-stop-shop adult education platform where people can choose the training they need and which is relevant to their national priorities, and receive up to €500 in total funding. KURSUOK aims to encourage adults to develop their general and professional competences, to contribute to the promotion of a culture of lifelong learning in society, and to enable people who want to learn to apply for public funding.

The KURSUOK platform offers a wide range of training providers – from arts to technology training programmes. The key priority area of strengthening digital competences receives 50% of the €5.4 million total budget for this year.

More than 4,000 people have already completed training on the national adult education platform, which was launched at the beginning 2024, and almost as many adults have registered for various training courses funded by the state according to identified priority areas.

The funding for the learning programmes comes from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the State Budget of the Republic of Lithuania. The funding and administration of the Learning Programmes is the responsibility of the European Social Fund Agency (ESFA). In 2024, the total budget for learning programmes funding is €5.4 million. Up to €12 million is planned to be made available by spring 2026.

Transformation of public information technology governance initiative with €95 million grant, will enable all budgetary institutions to migrate their IT systems to a new cloud-based information and communication technology infrastructure that is managed centrally. By 2026, 325 institutions will have access to consolidated, safer, and more efficient IT services.

Digital Education Transformation “EdTech”  purpose is to promote the adoption of digital educational innovations in schools and enhance the digital skills of educators. The initiative encompasses the development of digital teaching tools, the digitization of instructional content, and the acquisition of equipment for distance and hybrid learning. A network of educator innovators and a testing environment for digital educational innovations will be established. By providing opportunities for pedagogues to obtain a master’s degree in IT, digital pedagogical competencies will be enhanced. The initiative, led by the National Education Agency in collaboration with institutions of higher education, began in 2022 and will conclude in 2024.

National Funding

The website esinvesticijos.lt is important platform for information about EU investments, providing potential applicants, project promoters, partners and other public groups with all the detailed information about EU investments in one place. Website is currently mostly focused on potential applicants, constantly updating information about the ministries’ plans to publish calls for proposals for project implementation plans, and all other information needed by applicants: legal acts, forms, methodological materials. The website also publishes information about funding sources and opportunities, implemented projects, their executors, the amount of funding provided, winners of public procurements, project results, and a calendar of events.

On Projects subpage are published information about projects for which EU investment programs and “New Generation Lithuania”  plan funds are allocated. On that page you may find data on funding for projects, their implementation period, project executors and partners, with information updated once a month.

Other funding options

Next Generation Internet (NGI Search), a project co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe, has the objective to fund projects that will develop technologies and solutions centred on internet and web related activities as well as privacy and trust for users who are searching and discovering information and resources on the internet/web.

Different funding options are also available on the Digital Skills and Jobs platform, you may find a listing for Lithuania on this link.