The INSPIRE project focuses on the construction of gas pipelines for the transport of hydrogen (hydroduct), which marks a crucial step in the integration of clean and sustainable energy infrastructures. To mitigate associated risks, such as hydrogen embrittlement, less vulnerable materials must be used, applying protective coatings and non-destructive testing techniques must be employed to detect damage before failure occurs.
To this end, the training of welders on hydrogen transport systems is an opportunity to contribute to the development of a skilled workforce capable of cleaner energy in the EU, supporting emission reduction targets.
The ultimate goal of the project is to complete and adapt the training to students starting their career as European Welding Inspector, but also to those who wish to acquire knowledge and skills on H₂ pipeline.
INSPIRE aims to adapt the current profile of the welding inspector and to pilot courses where the training materials developed in the framework of the project can be tested. It will also contribute to support the search for solutions to the urgent need for skilled manpower in the field of hydrogen pipeline construction and rehabilitation by developing innovative digital training materials that include everything necessary related to H₂ pipelines.

The Centre of Vocational Excellence in Welding and Non-Destructive Testing seeks to unite the expertise of educators and trainers from existing vocational education and training (VET) centres, research institutions, universities, welding industry companies, and other key stakeholders from the Quadruple Helix. This collaboration will form an international network of CoVEs that will strengthen the skills ecosystem across Europe.

The COVE-WENDT project is focused on building competence ecosystems to foster innovation, SMART specialization, and regional development, facilitating the transition to a green and digital economy. The Smart Specialisation Platform (S3P) supports EU Member States and regions in developing, executing, and evaluating their Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3).

The objective of the project is to facilitate the training of technical personnel by creating a Virtual Reality (VR) platform with information and skills collected from teachers and trainers of existing VET centers, research colleges and universities to create a training course on non-testing destructive of penetrating liquids and make it available to experts from industrial companies in the non-destructive testing training sector, developing an innovative Virtual Reality training platform used by the network of training centers in different countries, to train testing specialists non-destructive testing using the liquid penetrant testing method and developing innovative teaching materials for virtual reality training in liquid penetrant testing, supporting ecological and digital transitions in the non-destructive testing sector.

To have a cleaner and more prosperous world, the economy must operate in an ecosystem where green technologies, digitised equipment must replace outdated, low-productivity and polluting equipment. Reducing energy consumption, raw materials and their recycling is also an international priority. In all areas, we need to innovate, promote and implement innovative green technologies to reduce environmental impact.
In this context, the HINTS project supports the capacity building of VET providers from the Western Balkans and Southern Mediterranean countries, by applying the best approach in an international context to respond to market needs through the creation and development of a collaborative network between European institutions and VET providers from Western Balkans and Southern Mediterranean countries and between them and their beneficiaries (industrial companies and SMEs). All these generates beneficial effects in the ecosystem related to the economic sectors, facilitating the transition towards a digitized and green industry.

The AILEEN project (Aerospace and Defence Centres of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing) brings together a network of organisations from seven European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Spain, UK and Turkey), representing both education providers and industry and sharing the same commitment to cooperate in a systematic way. What do we aim to achieve with the AILEEN project? To develop systematic conditions to ensure the quality of synergy and cooperation actions between countries. To develop the technological, digital and green competences in advanced manufacturing necessary for the transition to a circular and greener economy. Update European/International Harmonised Qualifications in Welding and Additive Manufacturing according to the specific requirements of the Aerospace and Defence ecosystems.

The GREENWELD (Green Welding Certificates) project aims to focus on welding technology and the sectors for which this technology is used, addressing the challenges to identify and develop these new competences for the green transition. GREENWELD focuses on developing curricula to address the green competences of welders and also on how to adapt learning methods with a greener point of view in training (e.g. use of welding simulators) and education. The starting point will be the EWF qualification for welders and the course will enable further development according to international guidelines and the achievement of harmonised education.

The ADDress For Future project aims to increase the skills of young people, trainers and adults in additive additive technology, which is considered one of the technologies of the future and whose field of application is increasing every day, and to ensure that the content of vocational training and education is of quality and accessible to more people through the use of digital tools.