BluSpecs monthly newsletter – December edition

O-CEI promotes Edge innovation in Europes

The year began with the Open Computing & Edge Innovation (O-CEI) initiative launch, focusing on edge computing, AI, and open-source solutions. Europe’s investment in cloud and edge computing continues to grow, shaping the digital landscape across industries. With edge computing projected to reach $274 billion by 2025 and enterprise data increasingly processed outside traditional data centres, O-CEI is positioning Europe at the forefront of next-generation technologies.

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Connecting Women in Digital: driving inclusive digital innovation

The Connecting Women in Digital initiative kicked off, promoting gender diversity in tech. A series of events, mentorship programs and training sessions highlighted the commitment to bridging the digital gender gap. The initiative aims to create a more equitable and dynamic digital workforce.

Why this matters?

• Women represent just 17% of ICT students in the EU, highlighting the urgent need for early intervention (Eurostat 2018)

• The global digital economy is projected to create 150 million new tech jobs by 2025 (WEF)

• Gender disparity remains a critical issue in tech, with only 19% of ICT specialists in Europe being women (Eurostat 2023)

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Mapping Europe’s Advanced Digital Skills

During the 20x30 Advanced Digital Skills Summit, our Managing Consultant, Brendan Rowan, presented the State-of-Play which provides a snapshot of Europe’s ICT workforce, revealing progresses and emerging gaps. Europe currently has 12.2 million ICT specialists, falling short of the 20 million target by 2030, with women representing just 19.5%. However, since 2011 Europe has doubled its ICT workforce, narrowed the gap with the Us and developed the second-largest ICT workforce globally.

Download the State-of-Play report

The ADS Data Model dashboard was developed by HeadAI under the LEADSx2030 initiative, providing an interactive, data-driven view of skills demand across AI, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and more. Integrating millions of job postings, research publications, and investment records, the dashboard enables stakeholders to explore trends, detect gaps, and benchmark curricula or workforce planning. By aligning education, policy, and industry, this tool supports evidence-based decisions and strengthens Europe’s digital workforce readiness toward the 2030 ICT goals.

See the dashboard

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INSTAR strengthens EU-Japan collaboration with two MoUs

The INSTAR Standards initiative reached significant milestones with formal Memoranda of Understanding with the Japan Business Council in Europe and Japan’s Telecommunication Technology Committee.

These agreements strengthen collaboration on AI, cybersecurity, digital ID, quantum computing, IoT, 5G/6G, and standards development. These partnerships highlight the importance of international collaboration in shaping global digital standards, enabling Europe and Japan to drive innovation, align frameworks, and foster cooperation in emerging technology sectors effectively.

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Project concluded: ELADAIS achievement

The ELADAIS project concluded with its final event at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, marking the end of two years of collaboration on digital health innovation. The event brought together research institutions, hospitals, industry partners, and stakeholders to demonstrate how secure data interoperability, AI, and cloud technologies can improve healthcare systems while respecting privacy and trust. Project outcomes highlighted new approaches to connecting research and clinical environments, setting a benchmark for future European digital health initiatives. The event celebrated shared achievements, knowledge exchange, and the strong ecosystem built around ELADAIS, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient-centred digital healthcare solutions.

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AIOTI Days & Open Source Community

In September 2025, AIOTI Days in Madrid brought together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to explore how AI, the digital continuum, and virtual twins can transform cities into human-centric, sustainable, and resilient ecosystems. Key sessions highlighted collaboration, standardisation, and green enablement, with the INSTAR Standards initiative showcasing Europe’s role in global digital frameworks.

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The Open Source Community Days, co-organised by the Eclipse Foundation and CEI-Sphere, emphasised Europe’s need for sovereign, interoperable digital solutions. Projects like O-CEI, SPADE EU, TwinEU, CONNECT, and LICORICE demonstrated open-source strategies driving sustainable, secure, and innovative digital futures, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing across the continent.

Learn more

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EU-Canada digital partnership week

The EU-Canada Digital Partnership Week on ICT Standardisation took place from 14–16 October 2025, uniting policymakers, industry leaders, and technical experts to advance interoperability, security, and innovation.

• Day 1 focused on Cloud-Edge-IoT, exploring cross-sector alignment, industrial competitiveness, and large-scale pilot initiatives.

• Day 2 highlighted Dataspaces, emphasising trusted data channels, secure flows, and cross-border cooperation for Common European Data Spaces.

• Day 3 covered Quantum Technologies and Post-Quantum Cryptography, addressing computing, sensing, communication, and future-proof security standards.

Participants gained insights into real-world implementation strategies and collaborative opportunities. The event reinforced the EU-Canada commitment to a harmonised, resilient, and human-centric digital ecosystem, shaping the global digital landscape for years to come.

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The hourglass model: rethinking the digital ecosystem

CEI-Sphere launched the Hourglass Model: it offers a new way to design and understand complex digital ecosystems by turning fragmented data flows into actionable insight. Structured around a narrow interoperability “waist,” the model visualises how data moves from the physical world to user-facing applications through standardised, connected layers. It clarifies the roles of infrastructure providers, dataspace and analytics experts, and application developers, highlighting collaboration across stakeholders.

By aligning people, processes, and platforms, the Hourglass Model supports modular, scalable, and resilient system design. Applicable to smart cities, mobility, and industrial automation, it serves as a practical blueprint for organisations seeking clarity, interoperability, and long-term impact in increasingly complex digital environments.

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DIGITAL Skills EU Days: insights from Brussels

From 12–14 November 2025, Brussels hosted the DIGITAL Skills EU Days, bringing together over 250 leaders from policy, industry, and education. The event featured the 20×30 Advanced Digital Skills Summit, the European Digital Skills Awards, and the Women in Digital Summit.

BluSpecs played a central role, with our CEO Tanya Suárez, our Managing Consultants Brendan Rowan and Liubba El Hadi Hamed leading discussions on workforce readiness, talent development, and digital inclusion. Key sessions highlighted Europe’s advanced digital skills gaps, strategies for reskilling, and systemic approaches to building an inclusive digital pipeline for women.

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Are we adapting fast enough to digital tools at work?

The TechConnect industry landscape survey, based on input from 300+ professionals across 14 countries, the highlights how organisations are adopting Advanced Digital Technologies (ADTs), and where gaps remain in skills, training, and perception.

The results show: 

• Why organisations adopt tech: performance (88%) is the first driver.

• The barriers: data concerns (74%) and high costs (72%).

• Employee vs manager views: where perceptions on training and impact diverge.

• The human factor: 85% of employees say human skills are more important than ever

Digital transformation enhances human potential, requiring organisations to rethink governance, training, and communication.

Watch the full webinar

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Our team journey’s through the year

Part of the BluSpecs team took a well-deserved break in the vibrant city of Marrakesh, Morocco. Far from business, the trip was a celebration of the team’s hard work, dedication, and creativity throughout 2025. From panoramic city views to sampling authentic Moroccan cuisine, the experience blended relaxation, culture, and camaraderie, strengthening bonds across the team.

Back in Madrid, colleagues from IoT Tribe joined BluSpecs for a festive Christmas dinner, sharing laughter, memories, and holiday cheer. These moments remind us that success isn’t only measured by projects delivered, but also by the connections, joy, and shared experiences we create together.

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