July 10, 2025

New data shows AI innovation needs skills beyond coding

A groundbreaking new report co-authored by EIT Health and EIT Digital as part of the EIT AI Community reveals that Europe’s leading AI start-ups aren’t driven by coding skills alone – they thrive on a mix of deep sector expertise and interdisciplinary soft skills. The report includes regional data, key policy recommendations, and insights to support AI workforce development across Europe’s healthcare and innovation sectors.

The AI Skills and Occupations in the European Start-up Ecosystem report, powered by the EIT AI Community's SkillSync platform, analyses the skillsets of over 23,000 professionals across 3,600 AI start-ups. Its findings challenge conventional thinking about what fuels AI success in Europe. 

While strong foundations in programming and machine learning are widespread, the report highlights that start-ups combining technical know-how with sector-specific knowledge (e.g. in healthcare, engineering, or manufacturing) – and crucial soft skills such as communication and project management – are more likely to contribute to regional innovation. 

“Competence in general IT skills alone does not drive innovation. To truly unlock AI’s potential, we need to go beyond just digital skills and cultivate advanced, interdisciplinary capabilities that reflect the real-world needs and opportunities of each sector,” said Dr Magí Lluch-Ariet, Data Manager at EIT Health. 

This message aligns with Europe’s broader ambition to lead in AI, especially as the European Commission’s AI Continent Action Plan gains traction. The report’s findings offer data-driven recommendations for upskilling and aligning educational strategies across regions.  

Among the key insights: 

  • Healthcare and engineering skills boost performance: Regions with interdisciplinary capabilities consistently outperform others with similar technical baselines. 
  • Soft skills and sector understanding matter: Particularly in underperforming regions, these are often the missing link in innovation. 
  • Regulatory and audiovisual expertise is underrepresented: These areas remain critical bottlenecks in AI adoption, particularly in health. 

Using a new Skill Intensity metric, the report maps six regional skill clusters across Europe, allowing educators, policymakers, and corporates to benchmark workforce strengths and plan tailored upskilling programmes. 

The report suggests how local skills gaps could be addressed to drive innovation. For example, start-ups in Eastern Europe could benefit from a focus on multi-disciplinary ‘soft’ skills and sector-specific skills. This would allow them to build on their extremely solid base of skills, such as in ICT, which are extremely prevalent in AI start-ups, even if not correlated with regional innovation output on their own.  

In addition to supporting start-ups, EIT Health has long explored the implications of AI for the wider healthcare workforce. Its 2020 report, Transforming Healthcare with AI, highlighted the importance of preparing healthcare professionals for digital transformation. 

“Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. At EIT Health, we see through our programmes that real impact comes from bringing education, research and business together in practical ways. This report reinforces that it’s not just about connecting these sectors – but about enabling the flow of skills between them. Whether it’s AI in healthcare or other cutting-edge technologies, the most successful innovations are driven by diverse, applied capabilities – technical, scientific, managerial – that our programmes are designed to nurture and deliver,” says Graham Armitage, Director of Delivery, EIT Health.  

🔗 Want to dive deeper? Discover how SkillSync is transforming learning and teaching through AI-powered skill matching. Join our webinar on July 23 to explore its latest features, datasets, and tools for educators, professionals, and organisations.

 👉 Reserve your spot

June 11, 2025

Reframing AI Leadership: A Conversation with Lumiera’s Emma G. Möller

As generative AI accelerates, so does the need to ask harder questions. Not just about what we can build, but what we should. In a new collaboration between the EIT Community and voices in the tech landscape, we’re spotlighting founders and investors who bring clarity, vision, and nuance to AI’s most pressing challenges. Conversations led by people actively shaping how AI systems are governed, developed, and deployed. 

The first episode in this series is hosted by the Responsible AI Podcast and features Emma G. Möller, co-founder and CEO of Lumiera, a boutique advisory firm helping leaders design AI strategies that hold up over time.

With a background in law, diplomacy, and systems thinking, Emma works with investors, policymakers, and C-level teams to ensure their decisions aren’t just fast, but forward-looking. 

The Responsible AI Podcast, known for its deep exploration of AI ethics and governance trends, provides an ideal stage for these conversations. Featuring voices from across the AI ecosystem, the podcast delves into how AI can be built responsibly and sustainably. 

In the episode, Emma and host Alexandre Karim Howard discuss: 

  • How to stand out in the AI space with meaningful differentiation strategies 
  • Why “perspective density” is key to smarter decision-making and fewer blind spots 
  • Emerging signals and trends from inside the AI ecosystem: what’s shifting on the ground 

Responsible AI through perspective density



“Responsible AI is not about sitting on a high horse. It’s about trust. It’s about being able to explain the decisions made through AI - and building systems that don’t lose us along the way.” - Emma G. Möller, co-founder and CEO of Lumiera



This content is brought to you by the EIT AI Community and EIT Supernovas: EIT Community initiatives that provide resources, networks, and support to founders building responsible tech. Initiatives such as the AI Founders Club, scaling and leadership programmes foster innovation and responsible tech leadership in Europe. 

June 3, 2025

Paving the Way for the Next Generation of AI in Europe

Europe’s Growing AI Leadership

Europe is making significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), emerging as a global leader known for its commitment to excellence, trust, and forward-thinking leadership. The continent is witnessing advancements in digital transformation, business innovation and sustainable AI development. With undeniably strong momentum behind digital transformation, sustainable AI development, and business innovation, Europe is fostering one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in the world.

Building a Responsible and Ethical AI Ecosystem

At the heart of this transformation lies Europe’s dedication to building a responsible AI future. By integrating ethical frameworks and a human-centric approach, Europe is setting a global benchmark for trustworthy AI. This emphasis is reinforced by robust research institutions, cutting-edge startups, and a collaborative spirit between public and private sectors.

Talent as a Cornerstone of Innovation

One of Europe's key strengths is its deep talent pool and comprehensive support for AI education. Across the continent, universities, research centers, and training programs are equipping future professionals with the skills necessary to lead in a fast-evolving digital landscape. However, challenges remain. Growing labour shortage and widening skills gap threaten to slow down progress and limit the capacity for innovation.

Closing the Skills Gap

In order to address this, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is stepping in with a proactive strategy. Through its AI-focused community initiatives, EIT AI Community offers targeted tools, training programs, and resources. They are precisely designed to nurture AI talent, support startups, and enable scale-up efforts across the continent.

Connecting Europe’s AI Ecosystem

These efforts are grounded in a solid understanding of market needs and driven by a vast, interconnected European network. The EIT AI Community is shaping the future by supporting current innovation. Likewise, by empowering entrepreneurs, upskilling workers, and fostering collaboration across industries and countries, the community is creating fertile ground for AI development and adoption.

Join the Movement

Now is the time to engage. Join the movement to shape the next generation of AI in Europe - where innovation meets impact, and talent meets opportunity.

V-comm-Artificial-fundedHD