As fast-paced developments in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are promising widespread productivity growth across economies, this conference brings together researchers, social partners, EU and national policymakers to discuss how can AI upskilling or reskilling initiatives ensure widespread benefits for workers and organisations.
Skills and VET are central to Europe’s competitiveness and resilience. And this event contributes to that wider conversation through the European Skills & VET Week 2026.
Cedefop’s ‘AI skills as competitive advantage for Europe’ conference brings together influential researchers, high-level EU and national policymakers, representatives of European social partners and other key stakeholders to discuss effective ways to overcome the AI ‘productivity paradox’ – the difficulty to reap tangible benefits from AI deployment at firm and macroeconomic level, but also across specific type of jobs. The event focuses on how closing critical AI skill gaps can bolster the EU’s transition to a competitive AI economy.
During the event, participants will explore the latest research on AI and its impact on jobs and skills, while high-level policy and stakeholder discussions will bridge these findings with policy design and practice. The programme features keynote speeches by researchers from the European Investment Bank and leading EU universities, alongside a fireside chat with Professor Laura Nurski, Acerta Chair of AI at Work at KU Leuven University and Head of the Future of Work programme at CEPS. Dedicated knowledge-exchange sessions will discuss challenges of AI adoption across strategic EU industries, drawing directly on sectoral representatives’ experience of AI adoption. Participants will gain exclusive access to fresh insights from Cedefop’s 2024 AI skills survey and its recently completed AI sectoral skill foresights.
The discussions aim to provide useful evidence on how the EU and national AI and skills agendas can be better aligned. They will inform Cedefop’s AI futures of work research programme, which analyses how advances in AI and digital technologies are affecting skill demands and skill mismatches.
Register now below to help shape the EU’s AI future of work.
This event is part of the European Skills and VET Week, an initiative from the European Commission, organised by Cedefop. Since 2016, the Week provides policy makers, stakeholders and social partners with a platform to share insights, showcase best practices, and help drive strategies for upskilling and reskilling the European workforce.
Register now below to engage in shaping the EU’s AI future of work.
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