EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction launches to connect learning, skills and careers for Europe's future
EIT Food is taking part in EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction, a new EIT initiative that aims to help more people across Europe gain STEM skills and access career opportunities to build sustainable and resilient food systems.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is launching EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction (EIT STEM Talent), an initiative aiming to expand access to STEM learning, skills and career pathways across Europe.
Europe faces a growing STEM skills gap. Nearly 80% of EU SMEs struggle to find workers with the STEM skills needed in ICT, AI and quantum computing. At the same time, according to initial calculations based on the 2025 PISA results, an average of 34.8% of 15-year-olds across the EU were low performers in mathematics and 27.3% in science.
EIT STEM Talent will connect learning and skills with the needs of European industries, helping people move from education into future careers, and it is part of the European Commission's STEM Education Strategic Plan and the Union of Skills.
A €2 million Call for Proposals to develop and scale STEM training
The initiative launches with a €2 million Call for Proposals to support organisations in developing or scaling STEM training programmes across Europe,
creating an opportunity to strengthen STEM skills and talent across sectors
The call is particularly relevant for organisations in EIT Food's partner network that already work in education, training or skills development. It offers a chance to build on existing programmes and connect with wider European networks working on talent and skills.
Skills for sustainable and resilient food systems
Europe’s food system needs the right STEM capabilities. EIT Food works to build sustainable, resilient food systems by equipping people and organisations with the scientific and entrepreneurial skills to turn promising technologies into practical solutions. This need is especially clear in fields such as agrifood biotechnology, resilient agriculture, food science and food system-innovation where STEM skills can help young professionals turn scientific knowledge into solutions to the challenges facing Europe’s food system.
STEM skills can help young professionals build knowledge in areas such as agrifood biotechnology and resilient agriculture. These are important areas for developing solutions to challenges facing Europe's food system.
EIT Food's role
EIT Food provides additional investment to EIT STEM Talent. We are responsible for the Quality Check, EIT Labels and Microcredentials task within the cross-KIC grant agreement.
Through this role, EIT Food will support the quality and recognition of learning offered through the initiative.
About EIT Food priority areas
Resilient agriculture offers one of the greatest opportunities to help Europe address human and climate health, along with the financial well-being of farmers. We have created a series of activities for farmers, agrifood businesses and consumers to scale regenerative practices in Europe. The aim is to spread knowledge and outcomes of our project to build a European regenerative farming community.
Alongside resilient agriculture, we focus on bringing protein diversification to the mainstream for people and the planet.
At the same time, biotechnology has the potential to alleviate many of the current food system’s challenges and contribute to Europe's competitiveness.
By focusing on these three priority areas, we bring together key players across the food system to accelerate innovation, bring new solutions to market and support their adoption across Europe.
Keep exploring EIT Food’s priority areas and discover how we’re driving change across the food system.