Go back

EARLALL participates in the second meeting of Talent Harnessing Platform

14/10/2024

On October 11, 2024, the European Commission hosted the second in-person meeting of the Harnessing Talent Platform, bringing together the four Working Groups (WGs) of the Talent Booster Mechanism to Brussels. Launched in 2023 by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO), , this initiative aims to tackle challenges such as population decline and the lower share of tertiary-educated individuals in Europe’s regions by focusing on talent retention and development.

EARLALL (European Association of Regional & Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning) was present as a member of the Research and Innovation Working Group. EARLALL sees this platform as an opportunity to showcase its regions’ efforts and promote flagship research projects such as TRAILS, LCAMP, and SKYLA, which address critical issues related to skills development and regional innovation.

The meeting, held at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), aimed to evaluate progress within each WG and strengthen cooperation across different sectors—digital, health, research & innovation, and territorial development. The event provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and coordination of strategies to enhance talent harnessing across European regions.

In a forward-looking discussion, participants explored ways to integrate the work of different WGs, identifying overlapping themes that could enhance collective output.

The meeting had several key objectives:

  1. Presenting Achievements: WG leaders from health, digital, research & innovation, and territorial dimensions updated participants on the advancements made since the group’s formation, sharing early reflections and findings.
  2. Promoting Synergies: A significant focus was placed on identifying cross-cutting issues and creating synergies between the WGs, facilitating a more unified approach to addressing talent challenges in Europe.
  3. Showcasing Regional Initiatives: EARLALL utilized the platform to highlight how its regions are tackling talent development challenges. Projects like TRAILS (focused on sustainable skills mismatch and labour shortages), LCAMP (addressing advanced manufacturing), and Skyla (focused on smart specialisation regional strategies) were presented as examples of regional efforts that could be replicated across Europe.

The meeting featured a range of sessions aimed at encouraging collaboration also including representatives from initiatives such as the Pact for Skills and the Rural Revitalization Platform who presented their work, highlighting possible areas of collaboration with the Harnessing Talent Platform.

Looking ahead, EARLALL’s participation in the Research and Innovation WG is expected to provide further visibility for its regional projects and initiatives. The meeting set the groundwork for final deliverables that will offer policy recommendations on enhancing talent retention and development across Europe’s regions. A follow-up online meeting in December 2024 will continue the work started during the in-person session.

By leveraging this platform, EARLALL not only contributes to shaping EU-wide strategies but also promotes its regions’ projects on a European stage. The Harnessing Talent Platform offers an excellent opportunity for regions to collaborate, share best practices, and enhance their innovation ecosystems, paving the way for a more skilled and resilient workforce across Europe.