BluSpecs monthly newsletter – May edition

Shaping the future of STEM: Women Congress! 🌍 

“Visibility matters, not only to inspire future generations, but to drive real structural change.” 

The Spain Women in AI Report reveals that only 28% of AI professionals in Spain are women, and just 20% of speakers at major Spanish tech events are female, highlighting the urgent need for systemic action.  

At the STEM Women Congress (GSWC) in Madrid, we joined leading voices from across Europe to spotlight the critical role of visibility and leadership in driving gender inclusion in STEM. In our latest blog, we explore the key takeaways from the event, from the importance of female role models to the structural changes needed to create truly inclusive work environments. 

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What does it take to transform quantum breakthroughs into market-ready solutions? 💥 

At Q-Expo 2025, our CEO Tanya Suarez led one of the most compelling panels of the event: Scaling Quantum Innovation Through Smarter Investment. The conversation brought together leaders from Amadeus Capital Partners, QDNL, Atmos Ventures, and the European Innovation Council to unpack how Europe can move from promise to impact in the quantum space. With over €2 billion raised by European quantum startups (Dealroom) and the EIC Step-up programme injecting €300 million into deep tech, the momentum is undeniable. But scaling quantum requires more than funding, it needs collaboration, clarity, and commitment. 

Europe’s quantum ecosystem is close to a breakthrough, but achieving global leadership will require smarter investment, policy alignment, and collaborative capital. 

ENABLE 6G comes to an end, a major milestone in the evolution of next-generation mobile networks across Europe 🌐 

Hand to hand, our partners IMDEA Networks Institute Telefónica NEC Laboratories Europe and Pi Lighting have developed 20 key assets and real-world applications across the MAP-6G and RISC-6G sub-projects ranging from Open RAN security (Det-RAN) to the AIChronoLens framework for time-series forecasting. ENABLE-6G reinforces Europe’s leadership in the global race for 6G including: 

• Advancing low-power communications and AI-driven network intelligence 

• Developing privacy-preserving machine learning at the edge 

• Enhancing real-time sensing and localisation for 6G 

• Designing explainable AI models for transparent and ethical innovation. 

These outcomes firmly position Spain and Europe at the forefront of 6G research and development.

LEADSx2030 Digital brochure for a stronger digital Europe 📘 

Europe’s digital decade is here, and LEADSx2030 is providing the roadmap. With €120M+ invested and over 580 organisations involved, the newly released brochures support stakeholders with actionable insights on: 

• Inclusive upskilling and reskilling 

• Forecasting digital talent needs 

• Bridging education-industry collaboration gaps 

• Gender equity in ICT (only 19% of EU ICT jobs held by women) 

Brochure content draws from 50+ projects and offers frameworks to evaluate, build, and scale skills training efforts. 

What’s next for Europe’s Digital Skills? Insights from the Info Day 💡 

The European Commission is launching a new wave of Digital Skills Academies to tackle critical talent gaps across Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Worlds, and Semiconductors. 

Each academy will act as a sectoral hub, aligning education and training with real-world industry needs, while promoting diversity, returnship programmes, and stronger collaboration between academia and business. 

• Quantum Skills Academy: Advanced hands-on training (EQF 7–8), career events, and outreach for quantum workforce development. 

• Virtual Worlds Academy: New competence frameworks, creative-tech curricula, and metrics to track market alignment. 

• AI Skills Academy: Focus on generative AI, pilot apprenticeships, scholarships for women, and reintegration of European talent abroad. 

These academies will strengthen Europe’s position as a leader in inclusive, future-proof innovation. 

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LEADSx2030 Best Practice Library 📚 

The LEADSx2030 Best Practice Library is a new resource designed to support professionals and policymakers working to enhance Europe’s digital skills. This platform brings together innovative tools, methodologies, and frameworks developed by experts to strengthen the region’s digital capabilities. 

The library features valuable resources on monitoring digital skills demand, designing effective training programs, upskilling the workforce, fostering industry-education collaboration, and increasing female participation in digital sectors. 

If you're working on a digital skills project or have relevant best practices, you can contribute to the library and share your expertise with others in the field. 

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