At the upcoming EIT Education and Skills Days, one of the event’s sponsors, and EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative Pledger, Eleks, will join the discussion on how Europe can build the skills and partnerships needed for a deep tech-driven future. We spoke with Lyubomyr Matsekh-Ukrayinskyy, a company representative and long-time member of the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, about their motivation for supporting the event and their vision for the future of work in an AI-driven world.
“We want to stay ahead of societal and technological shifts, especially those driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and global uncertainty.”
Lyubomyr values the EIT Deep tech Talent Initiative as a source of exclusive insights that go beyond public reports by offering a unique, holistic platform that combines technology, social sciences, and future thinking, which aligns closely with the Eleks’ values and transformation goals. They are particularly interested in understanding long-term trends (5–15 years) in deep tech, education, and industry, and identifying potential partners for business, research, and upskilling collaborations.
Eleks believe there are three main technical skills gaps that need closing. The first is to do with AI literacy and realism, and Lyubomyr explained that although there are an abundance of AI projects many of them under-deliver. He feels that Europe should take a more critical and sober view of AI to understand what truly works in order to realise its true potential.
The second skills gap is around the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT0 and hardware-software systems which remain essential for Europe’s continuing industrial strength. Finally, there is a skills gap in food and resource security, especially in topics such as agriculture, water, and soil which are becoming more important for keeping Europe resilient in the face of challenges.
Beyond technical skills, Eleks believe leadership is a crucial missing skill as traditional leadership models are no longer effective in times of transformation. Soft skills remain vital, but leadership innovation is the real missing piece as new leadership approaches are needed to guide teams through uncertainty.
Eleks also advocate for a bottom-up, evidence-based approach to education policy which includes:
- Talking directly to students and job seekers to align education with real needs.
- Reducing bureaucracy that slows innovation.
- Revalue and integrate crafts and practical skills with higher education by creating hybrid paths that blend academic and hands-on learning.
While Eleks acknowledges the strength of the EIT “Knowledge Triangle” which comprises industry, academia, and research, Lyubomyr suggests that adding local authorities and city councils into the mix would help direct innovation toward genuine societal needs, as they are the actors who deal with real-world problems on a daily basis. Additionally, NGOs could help spread and implement the results.
Lyubomyr raised a final question for discussion within the EIT Deep Tech Talent ecosystem:
“How do we see Europe’s future in ten years? I don’t see enough discussion about that. There’s some confusion about our direction, but also great potential. The question is, how can we shape this future together?”
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