Joint Matchmaking Event: DEP Call for Sectoral Digital Skills Academies
On 28 May 2025, at 14:30 CEST, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform (DSJP) and the Digital Large-Scale Partnership (Digital LSP) organised a Joint Matchmaking Event that catalysed collaboration and facilitated consortium building.
Background
On 16 May 2025, the European Commission hosted an Info Day dedicated to the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) 8th Call for Sectoral digital skills academies:
- DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08-QUANTUM-ACADEMY-STEP Quantum Skills Digital Academy
- DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08-GENAI-ACADEMY-STEP Digital Skills Academy in GenAI (AI Skills Academy, Part 1/2)
- DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08-VIRTUAL-WORLDS-ACADEMY-STEP Virtual Worlds Skills Academy
The Info Day provided detailed guidance on the call’s priorities, application process, and expected outcomes. To build on the momentum and clarity offered by the Info Day, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform (DSJP) and the Digital Large-Scale Partnership (Digital LSP) are co-organising a Joint Matchmaking Event to catalyse collaboration and facilitate consortium building.
This Matchmaking event offered an actionable next step for stakeholders who are looking for project partners, synergies, or funding alignment under the Digital Europe 8th Call for Sectoral digital skills academies. It served as a pilot for similar events related to upcoming DEP Calls in the area of advanced digital skills.
Outcomes
- Insights from the 16 May Info Day where leveraged to facilitate proposal preparation
- Matchmaking between potential applicants and stakeholders
- Facilitation of the formation of transnational consortia aligned with DIGITAL Europe priorities
- Knowledge-sharing between DSJP and Digital LSP members and newcomers
Agenda
14:30 - 14:40
Welcome and Introduction of the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform
- Ioanna Tsotsou, Project Coordinator at European SchoolNet
14:40 - 14:50
Sectoral digital skills academies – Call introduction
- Nadja Kernchen, Policy Officer at DG CONNECT, European Commission
14:50 - 15:00
AI, Quantum and Virtual Worlds Skills Academies – Overview and Main Requirements
- Asja Satler, Programme Manager at DG CONNECT, European Commission
15:00 - 15:20
Best practices from Digital Europe Call Advanced Digital Skills Projects
15:20 - 15:30
Introduction to the Digital Large-Scale Partnership’s matchmaking tool
- Caterina Bortolaso, Project Manager at the European DIGITAL SME Alliance
15:30 - 18:30
Matchmaking sessions
