Driving SME Digital Transformation Through Skills, Research & New Training Opportunities
🔷 DigiAdvance at Cedefop & Eurofound’s 50th Anniversary “Skills & Jobs: How SMEs Go Digital” Webinar
DigiAdvance was honoured to join European leaders, researchers and policymakers at the joint 50th Anniversary of Cedefop & Eurofound, contributing to the high-level discussion on how SMEs can accelerate their digital transformation.
The event highlighted a major conclusion: 👉 Skills—not technology—are the real bottleneck.
- 73% of EU SMEs have reached at least a basic level of digital intensity, yet progress is uneven across Europe.
- Only Finland and Denmark currently meet the EU 2030 target for SME digital readiness.
- Most SMEs digitalise reactively (COVID-19, labour shortages, regulation) rather than strategically.
- AI adoption remains modest, with only 13% of SMEs using at least one AI tool.
- Firms with low digital maturity offer fewer training and autonomy opportunities, widening competitiveness gaps.
Representing DigiAdvance, the coordinator of the project Dr. Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl shared how these insights have helped shape our training strategy—built around 40 university-designed micro-courses, co-created with SMEs and higher education partners.
📍 Read the full news story: https://digiadvance.eu/digiadvance-joins-cedefop-eurofound-50th-anniversary-event-skills-and-jobs-how-smes-go-digital/
🔷 DigiAdvance at Welcome IT Day 2025
Engaging with the Next Generation of Digital Talent
DigiAdvance participated in Welcome IT Day 2025, an event dedicated to strengthening collaboration between universities, companies and future ICT professionals.
Our team presented:
- How DigiAdvance is mapping real skills needs across Europe
- The 40-course catalogue designed specifically for SMEs
- The increasing career opportunities emerging from AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data, and blockchain innovation
Students, entrepreneurs and tech professionals were invited to explore ongoing DigiAdvance training opportunities and join upcoming networking initiatives.
📍 Read more: https://digiadvance.eu/digiadvance-joins-welcome-it-day-2025-engaging-with-future-digital-talent/
🎓 New Courses from the University of Aveiro: Now Live!
🌐 Latest releases include:
- Microcredencial in artificial intelligence for business with University of Aveiro (UA) 🔗👉 https://digiadvance.eu/course/microcredencial-in-artificial-intelligence-for-business-2/
- Copywriting with AI – Write better to increase sales with University of Aveiro (UA) 🔗👉 https://digiadvance.eu/course/copywriting-with-ai-write-better-to-increase-sales/
- Intellectual Property and Licensing with University of Aveiro (UA) 🔗👉 https://digiadvance.eu/course/intellectual-property-and-licensing/
- Information Management in Science, Technology and Innovation with University of Aveiro (UA) 🔗👉 https://digiadvance.eu/course/information-management-in-science-technology-and-innovation/
More courses in our website 👉 https://digiadvance.eu/courses/
🔷 DigiAdvance Digital Skills Report: Key Findings
The DigiAdvance WP2 Digital Skills Report highlights the most critical digital skills gaps affecting European SMEs today. Drawing on research, surveys and interviews in Portugal, Ireland and Spain, the report identifies strong demand for skills in AI, data, cybersecurity, blockchain and digital marketing. It also analyses digital talent trends across Europe, including salaries, remote work and gender representation in ICT, providing valuable insights to support smarter upskilling strategies and a more competitive SME ecosystem
“The digital skills gap remains one of the biggest barriers to SME competitiveness in Europe.”
📘 Full report available here: https://digiadvance.eu/wp-content/uploads/WP2-Digital-Skills-Report-_2024.pdf
With new research, new courses and ongoing engagement with European institutions, DigiAdvance continues supporting SMEs in becoming digitally ready, resilient and competitive.