On 27 May 2026, the SMARCO project brought together partners and external stakeholders for the online workshop “Shaping Future Skills for Smart Communities: Stakeholder Workshop on Skills Gaps, Foresight and Job Profiles.” The event created an important space for dialogue on the future skills needed to support more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable smart communities across Europe.
The workshop focused on presenting and discussing key results emerging from SMARCO’s work on skills gaps, foresight perspectives, and future-oriented job profiles. In particular, participants were introduced to the main findings related to future smart communities’ skills development, including identified priority areas, emerging needs, and the evolving competences required for professionals working in this field.
A central part of the discussion was dedicated to the proposed SMARCO job profiles, which aim to reflect the changing reality of skills demands in smart communities. Participants were invited to reflect on the skills associated with these profiles and to share whether they align with the realities of their own organisations, sectors, and territories. The workshop also offered an opportunity to present the initial logic of the modules that are expected to support the next phase of curriculum development within the project.
One of the most valuable aspects of the event was its interactive format. Through a shared online board and open round-table discussion, stakeholders contributed practical insights on which skills areas should be prioritised, which competences appear most urgent today, and where further refinement may be needed. This exchange helped move the discussion beyond a purely theoretical level and ensured that the workshop remained strongly grounded in real needs and practical perspectives.
The feedback collected confirmed the importance of addressing not only technical and digital skills, but also broader competences linked to governance, sustainability, resilience, collaboration, and strategic foresight. Participants also highlighted the need for training approaches that are flexible, relevant, and able to respond to emerging developments in the smart communities ecosystem.
Overall, the workshop marked an important milestone for SMARCO. It supported the validation of the project’s current direction, strengthened engagement with stakeholders from different countries and sectors, and provided valuable input for the next stage of development. The reflections gathered during the session will now feed into the further refinement of the project outputs, particularly the shaping of curricula and training modules that are better aligned with future needs.
By bringing together research findings and stakeholder perspectives, the workshop reaffirmed one of SMARCO’s core ambitions: to help build a stronger skills foundation for the smart communities of tomorrow.
