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Talent Booster Mechanism

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Communication on Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions

The Communication on Harnessing Talent was published by the European Commission in January 2023. It focuses on regions that are facing a related set of challenges: a sharp working age population decline in combination with a low and stagnating share of people with a tertiary education as well as regions experiencing a significant departure of young people.

The Communication offers tailor-made, place based and multi-dimensional solutions, including the use of existing EU funds and initiatives to support regions most affected by the ongoing demographic transition and its side-effects and prevent the emergence of new and increased territorial disparities in the EU.

Talent Booster Mechanism

Addressing demographic change is key to building a more fair and resilient society. The EU recognises the importance of nurturing talent, particularly since it undergoes significant demographic changes. Some regions in the EU are experiencing a decline in their working-age population and a low percentage of individuals with tertiary education. Additionally, these regions are affected by the departure of young people. If these issues are not addressed, it can lead to growing disparities between regions in terms of workforce size and skills, ultimately affecting the EU's resilience and competitiveness.

To tackle this challenge and ensure that no region or individual is left behind, the European Commission launched the Talent Booster Mechanism in 2023. This initiative aims to support regions in training, retaining, and attracting people with the necessary skills and competences to mitigate the impact of demographic transition. The Talent Booster Mechanism is part of the broader efforts of the European Commission on harnessing talent and tackling demographic change and emphasises tailor-made solutions for various regions, utilising existing EU funds and initiatives.

The Talent Booster Mechanism is based on the following 8 pillars:

  • Pillar 1
    Pillar 1: Assistance for regions to train, attract and retain skilled workers
    A pilot project launched in 2023 to help regions facing a ‘talent development trap' elaborate, consolidate, develop and implement comprehensive and tailored strategic thinking and actionable framework, as well as identify relevant projects, to train, attract and retain skilled workers. Expert support is provided to 11 pilot regions which were selected on the basis of an open call: Alentejo (PT), Champagne-Ardenne (FR), Dél-Dunántúl (HU), Kontinentalna Hrvatska (HR), Łódzkie (PL), Peloponnisos (EL), Puglia (IT), Sachsen-Anhalt (DE), Vest (RO), Yugoiztochen (BG), Moravskoslezsko (CZ).
  • Pillar 2
    Pillar 2: Assistance for regions to adapt to the demographic transition
    The initiative on ‘Smart adaptation of regions to demographic transition' kicked off in 2023 to help regions facing high rates of departure of young people to adapt to the demographic transition and invest in talent development through tailored place-based policies. Based on an open call, 10 regions were selected to receive technical assistance and expertise. The selected regions are: Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region (SK), Campania (IT), Castilla y León (ES), Nord-Vest (RO), Região Autónoma dos Açores (PT), Centre - Val de Loire (FR), Extremadura (ES), Norte (PT), Regional Council of Pohjois Savo (FI), and Thessalia (EL).
  • Pillar 3
    Pillar 3: Reforms at national and regional level through the Technical Support Instrument
    The Technical Support Instrument (TSI) will support Member States, upon demand under the TSI 2023, 2024 and 2025 calls - and in forthcoming calls until 2027 – with reforms at national and regional level, necessary to address the shrinking of the working-age population and the lack of skills necessary to sustain growth and competitiveness, based on evolving labour market needs. Project examples from all TSI Flagships (and beyond) can be browsed via the interactive map.
  • Pillar 4
    Pillar 4: Boosting innovation and opportunities for high-skill jobs
    Cohesion Policy programmes and the Interregional Innovation Investments stimulate innovation and opportunities for high-skill jobs and thus contribute to improving possibilities to retain and attract talents in these regions. So far, 9 interregional innovation projects engaging stakeholders from 53 regions from 24 Member States have been selected under Capacity Building Strand 2b for receiving support from I3 Instrument: Project RISE, LABEL4FUTURE, I3-4-BLUE-GROWTH, Greet CE, CERITA, STARRISE, Value4Pack, I3HIES, Allon_I3.
  • Pillar 5
    Pillar 5: Innovative Actions under the ‘European Urban Initiative'
    A new call for innovative actions was launched under the ‘European Urban Initiative' to test place-based solutions led by shrinking cities that address the challenges of developing, retaining and attracting skilled workers. The EUI is about supporting capacities of all urban areas across Europe, providing evidence for policy-making and sharing knowledge on sustainable urban development, including via the Urban Agenda for the EU.
  • Pillar 6
    Pillar 6: A knowledge-building and experience-exchange platform
    EU initiatives that support the development of talents are being signposted on a  dedicated webpage (Harnessing Talent Platform). This provides easier access to information for interested regions about EU policies in areas such as research and innovation, training, education, and youth mobility.
  • Pillar 7
    Pillar 7: Exchange of experiences and dissemination of good practices
    Experiences are being exchanged and good practices will be disseminated: regions have the possibility to set up thematic working groups to address specific professional or territorial challenges.
  • Pillar 8
    Pillar 8: Development of analytical knowledge
    The analytical knowledge required to support and facilitate evidence-based policies on regional development and migration will be further developed. More information about pillar 8 activities and progress can be found on the Knowledge Repository.

In this context, the Harnessing Talent Platform is leveraged as a mean of communication, disseminating information related to the mention pillars. As such, the platform is the entry point for regions to apply for the technical assistance offered under pillar one, as well as central source of experience and best practice sharing (pillar seven) and a central source of information providing analytical knowledge to support evidence-based policy making (pillar eight).

Timeline

  1. June 2023
    Launch of call for EUI Innovative Actions under Pillar 5
  2. July 2023
    Launch of call for Working Groups members, 18 July
  3. September 2023
    Closure of call for Working Groups Members, 15 September
    Launch of call for regions to receive technical assistance under Pillar 1, 11 September
  4. October 2023
    Closure of call under Pillar 5, 5 October
    Closure of call under Pillar 4, 17 October
    Closure of call under Pillar 1, 20 October
    Closure of call under Pillar 3, 31 October
    EU Regions and Cities Week
  5. November 2023
    Harnessing Talent Platform Launch Event, 23 November
    Capacity building Call - Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument – Info day, 23 November
    First Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups in-person meeting, 24 November
  6. January 2024
    Kick-off meeting for start of Technical Assistance under Pillar 1 First Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups progress meeting
  7. February 2024
    Closure of call under Pillar 2, 14 February
    First cut-off date of the call for Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions under the I3 Instrument - Pillar 4, 15 February
    Closure of the call for the I3 Support Facility under the I3 Instrument - Pillar 4, 19 February
  8. March 2024
    Anouncement of selected projects under the Technical Support Instrument - Pillar 3
  9. April 2024
    Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups meeting, 26 April
  10. October 2024
    European Week of Regions and Cities session on Harnessing Talent
    Second Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups in-person meeting, 11 October
  11. November 2024
    Second cut-off date of the call for Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions under the I3 Instrument - Pillar 4, 14 November
  13. December 2024 – February 2025
    Closure of Pillar 1 Technical Assistance
  14. January 2025
    Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups online meeting, 31 January
  15. March 2025
    Harnessing Talent Platform second High-Level Event, 18 March
    OECD Policy Seminar – Pillar 2, 19 March
  16. June 2025
    Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups online meeting
  17. October 2025
    Third Harnessing Talent Platform Working Groups in-person meeting

Related links

Explore our collection of links related to the Harnessing Talent Platform:

@EUinmyRegion

@EU_Social

@RaffaeleFitto

@RoxanaMinzatu