Moderated by Oana Penu, Director of the InnoEnergy Skills Institute, the panel brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts, including Ingrid Rigler (Deputy Head of Unit for Innovation and European Institute of Innovation and Technology, European Commission), Cedric Borzee (Director, Consulting & Advisory Services, NIIT), Terence McGovern (Director, KPMG Sustainable Futures), David Harpur (CEO, Electric Avenue Bikes), and Emanuele Canton (EMEA RPO Solutions, ManpowerGroup).
Building Europe’s green workforce:
For the continent to reach its climate goals by 2050, it is estimated that 18 million people will need to be upskilled and reskilled. And while Europe’s transition to a net zero economy is accelerating, the shortage of skilled workers remains a critical bottleneck threatening progress. Clean tech industries, especially those in energy, batteries, and renewables, are struggling to find talent ready to be productive from day 1. For this reason, skills development and recognition are now an urgent priority for policymakers and industry leaders alike.
At the recent “Skilling at Scale for the Battery Industry” panel discussion, experts gathered to address this challenge. Against this backdrop, the InnoEnergy Skills Institute announced a significant milestone: training 100,000 workers through the European Battery Alliance (EBA) Academy. As Europe’s first Net Zero Industry Academy, launched in 2022 under a European Commission mandate, the Academy is equipping workers with the skills needed to power the continent’s clean energy revolution. But with demand for green talent far outstripping supply, how can Europe scale training, ensure cross-border recognition of skills, and build a workforce that meets the needs of a rapidly evolving industry?
Training workers and ensuring their skills hold value across different industries and European member states is now more critical than ever. Upskilling efforts remain a top priority at both EU and national level, but skills recognition, micro-credentials, and the portability of qualifications are equally critical. Our panellists discussed:
Bridging the skills gap:
One of the biggest challenges for Europe’s energy transition is the shortage of skilled workers. Ingrid Rigler, of the European Commission pointed to findings from the Draghi report on EU competitiveness, emphasising that “skill shortages in critical industrial sectors, such as energy, are a major challenge.” While higher education institutions play a key role, she argued that traditional degree programs alone are not enough to meet demand. “We need much shorter and targeted micro-courses… targeted more towards workforce reskilling, and the adult population,” she explained. “A few years ago, the European Commission proposed a recommendation on a European approach to lifelong learning and employability. Two years ago, the European Council adopted this recommendation that will set a standard of what micro-credentials are and, through this, will also ensure that these credentials are comparable between different industries” she added.
Terence McGovern noted that many companies must train workers in-house, often at significant cost. “A lot of organisations are doing their own training because the talent they need simply isn’t available in the market,” he said. However, the challenge is that without standardised recognition, workers remain locked within one company or sector, limiting mobility.”
Emanuele Canton revealed that “91% of employers do not have the talent they need to reach their ESG goals. 70% are looking for green talent, but 60% worry about the local skills gaps. Traditional talent approaches are not cutting it, so we need to find non-traditional approaches to create talent and bridge the skills gap.”
Micro-credentials:
Cedric Borzee revealed that one of the key insights from their research at NIIT is that skills assessment, which leads to portability and micro-credentials, is still a big challenge. Many organisations still lack the foundational work to define, identify, and validate skills. However, some promising solutions exist, namely, using AI to get direct feedback on behaviours and skills.
The European Commission’s Ingrid Rigler added that micro-credentials are not just about certificates but also about real-world applications. To ensure workforce mobility, it’s crucial that micro-credentials are aligned with industry needs and recognised across Europe.
In practical terms, a technician trained in battery technology in one EU country should be able to work in another without needing to retrain. It also allows workers to build their expertise incrementally, gaining recognised qualifications as they upskill over time.
Aligning with Europe’s clean transition objectives:
Recognising and validating skills will be key to achieving Europe’s climate and industrial ambitions. Panellists stressed that skills should be transferable across industries, making it easier for workers to move into green jobs. They added that micro-credentials provide a pathway for employees to gain relevant, employer-recognised qualifications in a rapidly evolving sector.
Collaboration is key:
A key theme from the panel was the need for collaboration between industry, academia, and policymakers.
Large employers might have the resources to train workers, but SMEs (many of which are the backbone of the European economy) often struggle to attract and retain skilled talent. Partnerships with institutions like the InnoEnergy Skills Institute can help bridge this gap, making training more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
According to Borzee, skills should be considered a strategic asset for Europe instead of a corporate challenge. A streamlined approach to certification and recognition will help future-proof the workforce.
The road ahead:
The InnoEnergy Skills Institute is already making progress in addressing these challenges. Working closely with EU policymakers and industry leaders, the institute aims to ensure that micro-credentials become a fundamental part of Europe’s green workforce strategy.
The milestone of training 100,000 workers through the European Battery Alliance Academy is an achievement, it is only the beginning.
The Skills Institute’s next phase includes upskilling efforts and expanding support for workforce sourcing, onboarding, and retention.
The message is clear for businesses and workers looking to stay ahead in the green transition: training is essential, as well as a lifelong learning approach in which skills recognition will drive impact.
Find out more about the InnoEnergy Skills Institute and how you can be part of shaping Europe’s clean tech workforce.
