The VET4DATACOOPERATION project has officially kicked-off in Vienna in December 2025. Funded under the Erasmus+ Framework (Project ID 2025‑1‑DE02‑KA220‑VET‑000352959), the project aims to strengthen digital skills and trusted data‑exchange capabilities across Europe’s manufacturing ecosystem.
The project partners met in person for a productive launch meeting hosted by INI‑Novation in the facilities of EIT Manufacturing East GmbH. The session marked the start of a two‑year collaboration dedicated to enabling SMEs and VET institutions to participate confidently in emerging data spaces.
Why VET4DATACOOPERATION?
Digitalisation is advancing rapidly, yet many small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) still struggle to adopt secure data‑sharing practices or understand the requirements of modern data ecosystems. At the same time, vocational education and training (VET) providers face increasing pressure to equip learners with the skills needed for a data‑driven industry.
VET4DATACOOPERATION addresses these challenges by:
- Developing accessible training modules for Gaia‑X‑compliant data exchange
- Supporting SMEs that lack resources or expertise to engage in data spaces
- Strengthening VET institutions through practical, industry‑aligned learning content
- Promoting trust, interoperability and data sovereignty as foundations for cooperation
The project’s overarching goal is to reduce barriers to digital participation and empower a broader audience to leverage data as a driver of innovation and competitiveness.
What Will Be Developed?
During the kick‑off meeting, the project partners aligned on the structure and scope of the upcoming training and dissemination activities.
The project will produce a comprehensive set of learning and communication materials, including:
- Training & Learning resources
- Practical online courses and an interactive digital magazine
- 30 “Good‑practice” examples
These resources will be designed for blended‑learning environments, ensuring flexibility for both educators and SME employees.
To ensure broad accessibility and impact, the project will also deliver:
- Multilingual project flyers and information materials
- Regular updates via social media and the project website
- Newsletters and press releases throughout the project duration
- Public events and knowledge‑sharing activities across partner regions
All materials will be available in multiple languages to reach a diverse European audience.
Over the next two years, VET4DATACOOPERATION will play a key role in strengthening digital readiness among SMEs and VET providers. By translating Gaia‑X principles into practical, easy‑to‑use learning formats, the project will help organisations understand the value of secure data spaces and use them as a competitive advantage.
More updates will follow as the project progresses. To stay informed, follow the official LinkedIn account: Link
Project partners:
- INI-Novation
- EIT Manufacturing East GmbH
- deltaDAO AG
- Industry Innovation Cluster
- imc Learning
- Macedonian Enterprise Development Foundation
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project number: 2025-1-DE02-KA220-VET-000352959
