Launch of the ECOSYSTEX Skills & Education Working Group

The ECOSYSTEX platform, which brings together over 60 Horizon Europe projects in textile sustainability and circularity, is expanding its scope to include EU-funded skills and education initiatives. A new Skills & Education Working Group has now been launched to give structured visibility to projects working on training, capacity-building, and workforce development, particularly those funded through the Erasmus+ programme in the TCLF (Textile, Clothing, Leather, and Footwear) sectors.

The group responds to a longstanding gap: while many projects across Europe are developing innovative training tools, curricula, and digital learning pathways, these efforts have often remained fragmented, with limited connection either to one another or to ongoing innovation and policy initiatives. This new working group offers a shared space to address that.

The idea for the group was originally developed by EURATEX within the AEQUALIS4TCLF Blueprint project and is now coordinated as part of its broader work on strengthening EU-level collaboration on skills. The initiative is hosted within ECOSYSTEX and supported by the Textile ETP, with the aim of embedding skills more visibly in the EU’s innovation ecosystem.

Why this matters

A shared space for Erasmus+ skills projects
The group provides a dedicated environment for projects in education and training to exchange, align their approaches, and build on each other’s results. From curricula development to green and digital upskilling, members can share methods, discuss challenges, and explore joint activities in a structured way.

Cross-programme collaboration
By joining ECOSYSTEX, Erasmus+ projects within the TCLF can directly interact with Horizon Europe consortia working on materials science, circularity, innovation, and digital transformation. This opens opportunities for knowledge transfer, mutual inspiration, and potential cooperation in future initiatives.

Policy engagement and visibility
As part of ECOSYSTEX, skills projects gain access to wider EU policy dialogues and can benefit from the platform’s dissemination infrastructure, including its extranet, LinkedIn community, and shared events. The group also contributes to the goals of the TCLF Pact for Skills and the Union of Skills initiative, aligning education outcomes with industry and sustainability needs.

Who can join
The group is open to ongoing EU-funded projects focusing on skills and education in the TCLF sectors. 

Already involved
A first group of Erasmus+ projects has already joined, including AEQUALIS4TCLF, METASKILLS4TCLF, ADDTEX, FEA-VEE, SEiSC, VETRINE, and SiT, with more expected over the coming weeks.

Next steps
The group has been officially launched on 24 June. It will also be presented publicly during the ECOSYSTEX Conference in Gothenburg, taking place from 29 September to 1 October.

🔗 Learn more or request membership: www.ecosystex.eu
📝 Direct registration form: Membership form link