VET4DATACOOPERATION

VET4DATACOOPERATION – teaching SMEs to leverage data spaces for competitive advantages

VET4DATACOOPERATION is an Erasmus+ project designed to strengthen Europe’s manufacturing ecosystem with the skills, tools and confidence needed to participate in data‑driven collaboration. As manufacturing companies increasingly rely on digital processes, data flows and interoperable systems, this project focuses on enabling secure, Gaia‑X‑aligned data exchange and building the competencies required for a resilient and competitive industrial landscape.

Addressing a critical skills gap

Small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) and vocational education and training (VET) providers often face similar challenges: limited resources, fragmented knowledge about data governance and uncertainty about how to implement trusted data‑sharing practices. VET4DATACOOPERATION responds to these needs by:

• Demystifying data cooperation and illustrating its value for productivity, innovation and competitiveness.
• Building practical data literacy, from basic concepts to applied use cases in manufacturing.
• Translating Gaia‑X principles such as data sovereignty, interoperability and trust into accessible training formats for non‑technical audiences.
• Strengthening collaboration between industry and VET institutions to ensure long‑term skills development.

The VET4DATACOOPERATION project consortium comprises of six partners from across Europe:

• INI-Novation
• EIT Manufacturing East GmbH
• deltaDAO AG
• Industry Innovation Cluster
• imc Learning
• Macedonian Enterprise Development Foundation