Supply chains, big data, and advances in personalized medicine – these are just a few of the knowledge areas undergoing transformation that are crucial for the health sector. To stay current and avoid knowledge gaps, the BRIGHTskills project, led by EIT Health and funded by Erasmus+, is developing a comprehensive set of qualification measures. The goal is to equip professionals working in research and development within Europe’s pharmaceutical and medical technology industries with the skills necessary to remain competitive globally. The University for Continuing Education Krems contributes its expertise and experience from its MBA program “Biotech, Pharma & MedTech Management” to the project, which launched in early 2025. The Department for Biomedical Research is responsible for designing and organizing the project’s reskilling and upskilling training program.
Europe’s healthcare system plays an increasingly significant role, employing nearly 25 million people and generating 9.5 percent of the EU-27’s total value added, according to Eurostat. The recent pandemic highlighted both the importance and the vulnerabilities of a functioning health system – from pharmaceutical development to logistics. In response to these challenges and in light of ongoing technological, digital, economic, ecological, and societal changes, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT Health) launched the Large-Scale Partnership for the healthcare sector in 2024 to address workforce needs. The partnership’s primary objective is to enhance the qualification and flexibility of the workforce, thereby strengthening innovation and growth. The initiative brings together educational institutions, public authorities, and universities.
Contributing to the European partnership for the health sector
The project “Boosting Resilience, Innovation and Growth in the Health Industry through Skills Development” (BRIGHTskills) is part of the European Pact for Skills and supports other initiatives of the European Commission, including the New European Innovation Agenda. It aims to close the qualification gap between educational programs and labor market needs. Running for four years and launched in January 2025, BRIGHTskills is funded by the Erasmus+ program and led by EIT Health, comprising a new “Blueprint Alliance” with over 20 partner organizations.
BRIGHTskills combines surveys and workshops with in-depth secondary research to identify emerging and urgently needed skills in the health industry. Based on these findings, the consortium is developing a qualification strategy for the sector, which will culminate in a roadmap for implementing comprehensive talent development measures.
Krems-based MBA program as a model
With its longstanding expertise in academic continuing education, the University for Continuing Education Krems plays a leading role in BRIGHTskills, focusing on piloting, implementing, and validating training programs. The University contributes its experience from its ACBSP-accredited MBA and Certificate Program in Biotech, Pharma & MedTech Management, both offered by the Department for Biomedical Research. These programs, grounded in academic theory and enriched with practical experience, position the university to effectively test the training methods and evaluation tools developed within BRIGHTskills. The University leads the corresponding work package, which will begin in June 2025. As part of this effort, the University – together with its partners – will recruit instructors, prepare content, and provide digital learning platforms.
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