Focus Areas - Digital Skills
Digital Skills: A Key Pillar of Cooperation between EU and India.
Digital Skills
Context
In today’s digital era, digital skills, ranging from basic literacy to advanced competencies in AI engineering, cloud computing, semiconductor production, high performance and quantum computing and 5G/6G technologies are critical for innovation and competitiveness. However, a significant skills gap in the ICT sector, driven by rapid technological evolution and mismatched skillsets, hinders progress.
In the EU, 10 million ICT specialists account for 4.8% of jobs, with a projected deficit of 7.8 million by 2030 if unaddressed, alongside a gender disparity where only 18% of specialists are women. In India, 1.5 million engineers graduate annually, but only 10% secured high-quality jobs in 2024, with just 45% possessing industry-relevant digital skills. This gap exacerbates unemployment, inequality, and stifled economic growth.
Both regions are responding: the EU aims for 20 million ICT specialists by 2030 under its Digital Decade Policy, while India designed key skilling initiatives, led by organisations such as the Indian National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT).
The EU-India Trade and Technology Council and High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility is strategically placed to foster cooperation, aligning education and enabling talent exchange to address these challenges, strengthening economies and promoting sustainable development.
Objectives
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Identifying baselines for future cooperation through mapping of existing digital skilling initiatives and skill demand in both the EU and India.
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Promoting structured exchanges on advanced digital skills for thematic priority areas.
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Setting up the Global Legal Gateway pilot office to inform and advise Indian talent on European labour markets and skilled migration.
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Encouraging multi-stakeholder dialogue to create opportunities and address challenges of migration and mobility of talent between the two regions.
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Creating a dynamic, web-hosted database as a foundational resource for
- aligning digital competencies with industry demands,
- sharing best practices for recognition of certifications and joint skilling programmes,
- leveraging existing job matching initiatives and,
- working towards an EU India digital talent pool.
Our Approach
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Workshops and peer-to-peer exchanges on advanced digital skilling gaps, best practices in developing joint programmes and skills qualification frameworks.
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Enabling the mutual recognition of skills certifications.
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Developing frameworks on migration and mobility pathways.
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Mapping of existing digital skilling initiatives by EU member states and EU companies in India.
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Developing and hosting a knowledge platform as a baseline for future cooperation showcasing best practices and use cases.
Current State of Cooperation
A mapping exercise of EU member states and their digital skilling activities in India indicates that four member states (Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden) have active digital skilling MoUs, while three member states (Finland, France, and Poland) have international programs with potential for scaling to other regions.
Existing skilling programmes of EU companies in India can be broadly classified into 4 categories (and are largely funded by corporate social responsibility initiatives targeting underprivileged youth and women.
The Global Legal Gateway will be piloted in India to ease skilled migration for digitally skilled Indian talent. Exchanges with the EU Member States and the sharing of best practices is ongoing.
Key Areas for Further Collaboration
- Developing a joint framework for skilling targeting the semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence sectors
- Aligning on skills qualifications
- Facilitating capacity building and knowledge exchange on use cases and best practices
- Engaging stakeholders in structured formats to involve different public and private stakeholders in skilling and migration and mobility initiatives.
Moving Forward
- Building on the initial alignment efforts and exploratory activities already underway, the Dialogue will move toward more structured and outcome-driven collaboration on Digital Skilling. In 2025, an online repository will deliver concrete insights into skilling needs and areas for convergence.
- Planned workshops and technical exchanges will translate strategic discussions into practical next steps, while a dedicated engagement track with experts and business stakeholders will ensure that diverse perspectives inform future cooperation.
- These efforts aim to operationalise shared priorities, generate scalable models, and support the development of an EU India talent pool and pathways for talent mobility.
