Last year was one of great expectations and extensive preparation for ANE. As we navigated the transition between EU cycles, we organised “meet and greet” events with candidates running for the European Parliament from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. These events highlighted the importance of the elections for engineers and STEM professionals.
In the latter part of 2024, while awaiting the election of a new commission, we embarked on an in-depth examination of the role of STEM talent in enhancing Europe’s competitiveness. This effort culminated in the report, Reclaiming Europe’s Edge: Competitiveness through STEM Talent.
The report identifies several key challenges threatening Europe’s leadership in innovation and industrial strength, including a critical shortage of STEM professionals, slow productivity growth, insufficient investment in research and breakthrough technologies, complex regulatory environments, limited access to deep-tech funding, and significant regional disparities. While these issues are well known, this report marks the first comprehensive examination of STEM talent’s role, underscoring the urgent need for immediate policy interventions.
Based on our findings, we formulated strategic recommendations for the European Commission’s 2024-2029 agenda. Our focus for the coming year will be to ensure these recommendations are adopted by the EU Commission and Parliament.
Elevating STEM on the EU agenda
We will strive to place STEM competencies prominently on the EU political agenda. We propose that STEM competencies be a recurring topic in European Council discussions, especially when addressing industry, prosperity, competition, and technological sovereignty.
Boosting investment in research and innovation
We advocate for increased public funding for research and innovation (R&I) to drive technological advancements in Europe. Adequate funding is crucial for developing strategic technologies and modernising science and technology infrastructure, fostering a vibrant research environment that can spur economic growth and technological progress.
The EU must better support the scale-up of technological innovations, particularly for deep-tech startups. We recommend developing and promoting funding programmes specifically aimed at providing scale-up financing. Additionally, we call for a review of national innovation systems and cross-border collaborations to identify barriers and enablers for a connected European deep-tech ecosystem.
Developing a comprehensive EU STEM strategy
We will lobby for a comprehensive and resilient cross-sectoral EU STEM Strategy. This strategy should extend beyond a STEM Strategic Education Plan to include broader enabling framework conditions that promote STEM professions. Key elements of our recommendation include:
- Establishing a dedicated body to oversee the strategy, ensuring coordination among stakeholders such as government, industry, and educational institutions.
- Engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, including social partners, to gather insights and build consensus on the strategy’s objectives.
- Continuously monitoring the implementation of the strategy and making necessary adjustments in response to political decisions and emerging challenges.
As we step into 2025, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work. The EU will once again be at the forefront of our agenda, and while we might not have all the answers, we’re certainly prepared to ask the right questions. We’re looking forward to a year of advocacy, collaboration, and hopefully, a few pleasant surprises along the way.