Brussels welcomed the first EIT EdTech Conference

The EIT EdTech Conference, which took place on 23 January at The EGG in Brussels, was a milestone for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), as it represents the very first EIT Community European EdTech event, coordinated by EIT Urban Mobility. It welcomed more than 100 delegates from over 20 different countries and representing European Institutions, National Governments, Academia and Universities, EdTech companies, and EIT Community.

The unique programme mixed high-level discussions with co-creation and ideation sessions. The participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on workshops, led by Dr. Henrik J.E. Blomgren, to discuss the past, present and future of EdTech. The last workshop of the day provided a participatory space  to assess what concrete ideas are key to move the EU EdTech agenda forward.

The attendees made valuable connections that have the potential to foster collaboration and future partnerships, working towards concrete outcomes. They also had the opportunity to meet 3 companies in the demo zone, who showcased examples of EdTech initiatives in Europe: Barco, Sp8ce and Labster.

An outstanding line-up delivered thought-provoking insights, sparking meaningful discussions on the challenges and innovation in European Education to build a better future for EdTech, unlocking its power in the digital age. David Pollard from EIT Health led a discussion on the future of Education in Europe considering the pace of technological advancement. He was joined by Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva from the European Commission, Salvatore Moccia from EIT Digital, Dr Janis Grevins from EIT and Prof. Tuula Teeri from the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).

The second panel, moderated by Dr. Inge de Waard, from EIT InnoEnergy, tackled the potential of EdTech and the need for EU investment. The panellists, Beth Havinga from the European EdTech Alliance, Dr. Nady El Hoyek, advisor at the French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Daniel Wisniewski from the European Federation of Education Employers, Peter Fagerström from Educraftor and Sean O’Reilly from Technological Higher Education Association, shared their views with the audience.

The participants had the opportunity to hear from top-level keynote speakers who joined the event to share insights on EdTech in Europe:

• Milena Stoycheva, Bulgarian Minister of Innovation and Growth
• Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director General, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture at the European Commission, closed the event
• Kaili Terras, Ambassador-at-large for Education and Edtech, Economic Diplomacy Department, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

You can find the event’s details and photos on the website.