Advocating for skills and innovation: ECE Brussels at JA Europe’s STEM4Entrepreneurship Forum

The European Centre of Excellence (ECE Brussels) contributed to the "STEM4Entrepreneurship Forum and Gala", organised by JA Europe on 19 November 2024 at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium. The event brought together more than 175 participants, including young entrepreneurs, Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials, and key actors from the education and business sectors.

The Forum provided a unique platform to discuss how to boost STEM education and entrepreneurship for young people across Europe, highlighting their essential role in driving Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and future economic growth.

Keynote speakers included Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, who both stressed the need for greater investment in STEM skills and in promoting youth innovation.

Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, called for urgent action to scale up efforts in STEM and entrepreneurship education, equipping Europe’s youth with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Representing ECE Brussels at the Forum, Bojan Kordalov, Director for Policy and Communication, reinforced the Centre’s commitment to advancing youth empowerment, skills development, and digital transformation across Europe and in EU candidate countries. The event provided an opportunity for ECE Brussels to engage with key European stakeholders and to contribute to the broader conversation on how to foster inclusive and forward-looking education policies.