The Harnessing Talent Platform
Green eDIH: Driving Talent Development in the Digital Working Group
Green eDIH has been selected as a core team member of the DIGITAL Working Group, part of the European Commission’s Talent Booster Mechanism. Launched as a key initiative for the European Year of Skills 2023, the Talent Booster Mechanism aims to invigorate reskilling and upskilling efforts across the EU. It focuses on supporting regions facing a decline in their working-age population by helping them train, retain, and attract the necessary skills and competencies to navigate the demographic transition.
As part of Pillar 7, the DIGITAL Working Group – one of four focused on Digital, Health, Research & Innovation, and Territorial Development – addresses specific professional and territorial challenges. Green eDIH, among up to 20 core members, plays a pivotal role in shaping the group’s agenda. The group’s objective is to explore how regions can attract, develop, and retain talent amidst demographic challenges, by identifying potential solutions and developing relevant instruments.
Project Overview
Europe is experiencing significant demographic shifts, as highlighted by the 2023 Report on the Impact of Demographic Change. In response, the European Commission has published a Communication on Harnessing Talent in Europe’s Regions and launched the Talent Booster Mechanism. This initiative aims to reskill and upskill the workforce, contributing to the European Year of Skills 2023.
The EU is facing a sharp decline in its working-age population, which decreased by 3.5 million between 2015 and 2020 and is projected to decline by an additional 35 million by 2050.
The affected regions are categorized as follows:
- Talent development trap regions (46 regions, 16% of EU population) that face a decline in working-age population and a low number of tertiary-educated individuals. They typically have a lower GDP, averaging 64% of the EU’s GDP per capita, and a higher rural population (31% vs. 21% EU average).
- At risk of talent development trap regions (36 regions, 13% of EU population) that are experiencing significant outmigration of people aged 15-39, risking future talent development challenges.
- Other affected regions (82 regions in 16 Member States, almost 30% of EU population) which are experiencing a decline in the working-age population, low higher education graduation rates, and negative mobility among young adults.
The Talent Booster Mechanism focuses on supporting EU regions affected by the accelerated decline of their working-age population. It proposes place-based and multi-dimensional solutions, utilizing existing EU funds and initiatives to prevent new and increased territorial disparities.
Both the Talent Booster Mechanism and the Harnessing Talent Platform are part of the Demography Toolbox, published in October 2023, which outlines a comprehensive approach to managing demographic changes in the EU.
The Harnessing Talent Platform (HTP) is a newly established initiative designed to support EU regions in tackling the challenges brought about by demographic changes, specifically the decline of tertiary-educated populations. HTP aims to provide the necessary guidance, information, and knowledge to help regions develop and implement comprehensive strategies to train, attract, and retain talent.
Through HTP, the European Commission disseminates relevant information, promotes events and best practices, and offers access to technical assistance and advice. A dedicated helpdesk is also available, making HTP a catalyst for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and resources among stakeholders.
Challenges and Opportunities
Regions in a talent development trap face structural challenges such as labor market inefficiencies, underperforming education and training systems, and low innovation and public governance. Addressing these challenges is vital to ensure long-term prosperity and resilience.
Ensuring that these regions become more attractive and resilient is crucial to the EU’s commitment to inclusivity. Several pillars of the Talent Booster Mechanism target all EU regions, recognizing that even those in a more favorable situation may face sub-regional demographic challenges.
By fostering a collaborative environment through the Harnessing Talent Platform, the EU aims to mitigate the impact of demographic changes and enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of its regions.
As part of Pillar 7 of the Talent Booster Mechanism, four Working Groups have been established to address specific professional and territorial challenges. These groups focus on Digital, Health, Research & Innovation, Territorial Development (including urban-rural linkages and quality of life)
These groups aim to enhance regional competitiveness and attractiveness for young, highly skilled workers. By bringing together stakeholders at the EU, national, and regional levels, the groups facilitate dialogue, exchange experiences, and build knowledge. They also identify opportunities and strategies to mitigate challenges related to the decline of tertiary-educated populations and harness talent in Europe’s regions.
Green eDIH has been selected as a core team member of the Digital Working Group, following the open call open for stakeholders at EU, national and regional level. In this role, Green eDIH will actively contribute to shaping and steering the group’s initiatives. The focus will be on gaining deeper insights into how regions facing demographic challenges can attract, develop, and retain digital talent by exploring potential solutions and devising relevant instruments.
Objectives
The work of the Groups will allow to have a deeper insight into how regions dealing with demographic challenges can attract, develop and retain talent, by exploring potential solutions and devise instruments linked to the discussed topic.
The Working Groups aim to:
- Develop a network of experts, with various types of stakeholders involved in or interested in understanding or addressing challenges related to the declining share of tertiary educated labour force and how to harness talent;
- Develop and share knowledge pieces and expertise, such as analytical tools and guidelines, policy recommendations, best practices and case studies, resources, within the group and externally;
- Articulate the challenges related to the declining share of tertiary educated labour force and how to harness talent;
- Identify and promote good practices and evidence-based approaches to mitigate these challenges and harness talent;
- Promote research in the selected areas;
- Ensure participation in meetings and continuous discussions on a variety of topics related to these challenges;
- Translate the findings into advocacy messages, policy recommendations and technical guidance for an actionable framework dedicated to EU’s regions dealing with demographic challenges and brain divide issues.
The specific objectives of the working group dedicated to the digital sector are:
- To bring relevant digital actors together and enhance dialogue, exchange of experiences and knowledge building between them;
- To identify opportunities and approaches to help mitigate challenges associated with digital skills mismatches and how to harness talent in the digital sector.
How it Works?
The main missions and activities of the working group will be to
- Develop a network of experts, with various types of stakeholders involved in or interested in understanding or addressing challenges related to the declining share of tertiary educated labour force in the digital sector;
- Develop and share knowledge and expertise, such as analytical tools and guidelines, policy recommendations, best practices and case studies, resources, within the group and externally;
- Articulate the challenges related to digital skills mismatches and how to harness talent in the digital sector;
- Identify and promote good practices and evidence-based approaches to mitigate abovementioned challenges related to digital skills mismatches in the ICT sector and how to harness diverse talent in the digital sector;
- Promote research in the digital area;
- Participate in meetings and continuous discussions on a variety of topics related to the declining share of tertiary educated labour force in the digital sector;
- Translate the findings into advocacy messages, policy recommendations and technical guidance for an actionable framework dedicated to EU’s regions dealing with demographic challenges and brain drain issues.
Between November 2023 and May 2026, Working Groups will meet at least three times per year, of which at least two meetings will be online and one meeting will be organised as physical meeting in Brussels, within the premises of the European Commission. The first physical meeting will take place on 24 November. During these Working Group meetings, participants will contribute to:
- deciding on the list of sub-topics to work on
- preparing issue papers on defined topics of interest
- sharing updates and good practices, knowledge and experience on the topic
- contributing to the creation of territorial expertise
- preparing presentations for the Working Group meetings
- reflecting solutions and preparing possible recommendations
- preparing guidance documents and toolkits for different levels of regional policy management
The figure below summarises the timeline proposed:
- 14 July – 15 September 2023
Call for members open
- September - October 2023
Selection of Working group members
- October – November 2023
Results are communicated to the members
- 24 November, Brussels
1st Working Group meeting
- November 2023 – May 2026
Regular Working group activity
Digital WG Members
The working group has 20 members selected amongst the pool of applicants to the open call. From the 20 selected members, 2 have the role of WG leaders.
The HTP secretariat supports the Digital WG by providing: 1) a Digital WG facilitator and 2) a support team. In addition, the Digital working group will benefit from expertise provided through the HTP Secretariat.
The secretariat will mobilize a pool of external experts, which will support the group, on case by case basis, in its thematic activities.
