Shaping the Future of Maritime Technology Skills – LeaderSHIP at the European Maritime Days

The EU Maritime Day on 21 and 22 May brought together policymakers, industry leaders, trade unions, researchers and regional stakeholders in Limassol, Cyprus, to discuss the future of Europe’s blue economy. As the EU’s flagship maritime event, it plays a key role in advancing priorities such as the green and digital transitions, sustainable ocean governance and skills development, notably through initiatives like the Pact for Skills and projects such as LeaderSHIP.

The LeaderSHIP Project partners hosted the workshop “Shaping the Future of Maritime Technology Skills” that addressed one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: how to anticipate and respond to rapidly evolving skills needs in shipbuilding and maritime technologies. Bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, training providers and trade unions, the session fostered a forward-looking and collaborative exchange on both challenges and opportunities linked to the twin transitions. Through a combination of expert presentations and interactive discussion, participants explored emerging trends, shared practical experiences and identified areas for action.

A central element of the discussion was the evidence generated by the LeaderSHIP project. Survey results presented during the session highlighted significant shortages in both technical and digital skills profiles, alongside a growing reliance on internal company training. These findings underscored the need to better align education and training systems with industry requirements, particularly as demand for skills linked to zero-emission technologies, automation and data-driven shipbuilding processes is growing. The workshop also showcased the project’s practical response, including the development of new curricula and pilot training programmes designed in close cooperation with industry stakeholders.

Participants also emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation across Europe. They reflected on the role of regional ecosystems and the Shipbuilding Pact for Skills in scaling up efforts, improving talent attraction and fostering lifelong learning. Particular attention was given to how collaboration between clusters, companies, education providers and public authorities can support cross-border mobility and ensure a more coordinated European approach. This was complemented by a policy perspective rooted in the European Maritime Industrial Strategy, which highlights the central role of skills, quality jobs and social dialogue in delivering a fair and competitive transition.

The industry perspective further illustrated the scale of transformation underway. Contributions from shipyard representatives highlighted how the green transition is reshaping competence requirements, with growing demand not only for advanced technical expertise but also for interdisciplinary skills, adaptability and continuous learning.

Overall, the workshop clearly demonstrated that addressing skills gaps is essential to securing the future competitiveness of Europe’s maritime industry. By connecting policy ambitions with practical solutions, it reinforced the need for coordinated European action and strong partnerships to build a skilled, resilient and future-proof workforce.

LeaderSHIP workshop topic: “Shaping the Future of Maritime Technology Skills” 

Presenters:

LeaderSHIP Project: Juha Valtanen, Project leader, Turku University of Applied Sciences

New curricula and piloted trainings: Tatiana Pais, Researcher, Ph.D. in Naval Engineering, University of Genoa

Regional Ecosystems and Shipbuilding Pact for Skills: Ana Mendibil, Training & Employment Manager, Basque Maritime Forum

European Maritime Industrial Strategy: Aurora Rossi, Policy Advisor, IndustriAll European Trade Union

Future Competence Needs at Shipyards: Ilkka Rytkölä, Ecosystem Lead, Meyer Turku Ltd

Vevox audience interaction: Suvi Kivelä, Project Manager, Turku University of Applied Sciences