The kick-off meeting of the European project Skills for Aerospace and Defence Community (Skills4ADC+) was held on Tuesday, March 31, in Rome. The event was hosted by Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini (FGB), the project’s coordinator, bringing together representatives from all partner organisations for the official launch of this ambitious initiative.
Funded under the Erasmus+ programme, Skills4ADC+ is a two-year project aimed at reinforcing Europe’s capacity to anticipate and respond to emerging skills needs in the aerospace and defence sectors. During the meeting, partners aligned on the project’s objectives, work plan, and expected outcomes, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort to address critical skills gaps across these strategic industries.
The aerospace and defence sectors play a crucial role in Europe’s security, technological sovereignty, and economic competitiveness. However, they are currently facing increasing challenges in attracting and retaining talent, particularly for highly technical and emerging roles. Skills4ADC+ seeks to tackle these issues by supporting the development of forward-looking, inclusive, and cross-sectoral upskilling and reskilling strategies.
The project consortium consists of 13 partners from seven EU Member States, including leading industry players, SMEs, universities, vocational education and training (VET) providers, clusters, and social partners: Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini -coordinator-, Aerocampus Aquitaine, Ceemet, Rzeszow University of Technology, Industriall, Aerospace Valley, University of Madrid Carlos III, Andalucía Aerospace Cluster, Akmon SA, Sekpy, Navantia, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce. All partners are members of the Pact for Skills, ensuring a solid foundation for cooperation and joint action By leveraging this diverse network, Skills4ADC+ aims to contribute to the creation of a resilient and future-proof industrial skills ecosystem in Europe, capable of adapting to rapid technological change and evolving labour market demands