Digital transformation is on the rise, with the transition to Industry 4.0 further increasing the need for a digitally skilled workforce. To facilitate an open discussion on digital skills and competencies in the food industry among the project partners, EQVEGAN organized on 5 May an internal online workshop in collaboration with the University of Deusto, during which Dr. Aitor Goti and Dr. Tuğçe Akyazı both presented their research and shared their expertise.

In the first part of the workshop, Dr. Akyazı gave a short presentation about their research paper “A guide for the food industry to meet the future skills requirements emerging with industry 4.0”. The objective was to generate an automated and interactive database for current and future skills requirements for the selected food sector professional profiles to be used by e.g.: Academia, Industry, Training centers. Dr. Akyazı also provided an overview of ESCO (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations), as their research is based on it, and compared the ESCO database with their own. Finally, she concluded, that the ESCO database needs to be updated as it does not incorporate future skills requirements.

Following the presentations, Dr. Goti answered the questions of the project partners and there was also time to discuss on digital skill needs in the food sector.