About the Study

E-skills are crucial for competitiveness, innovation and growth in the ICT sector as well as in related sectors. There is a pressing need to understand trends and developments and for European industries and SMEs to recruit the best skilled workers. It is important to make sure that European enterprises have access to an e-skilled workforce as well as ensure that European ICT practitioners are provided with the right incentives and training opportunities to develop and update their e-skills. Furthermore, it is crucial that European ICT entrepreneurs have the required e-skills to exploit the innovation potential of ICTs fully.

In January 2011, the European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry, launched the study E-skills for ICT practitioners and entrepreneurs. The study finished in April 2012. The aim was to study the specific e-skills requirements relating to green IT, cyber security and cloud computing with special focus on competitiveness and innovation and the needs of SMEs and start-ups. The finished study provides input to the e-skills agenda and the e-skills sector, and it identifies and promotes best practices at EU and national level.

The study has harvested the views of key stakeholders across Europe and has engaged the e-skills community through interviews and events. The study has also sought input and consultation from all interested parties. The findings and data collection are based on desk research of recent reports and studies, analysis of statistical data, case studies of best practice as well as large number of interviews and surveys with experts and stakeholders across Europe.

Results
The study identifies and proposes evidence-based recommendations for policy measures that will help ensure access to and development of critical e-skills in the domains of green-IT, cyber security and cloud computing. The recommendations are action-orientated, strategic and ambitious. The study promotes best practices and formulates concrete proposals to address the e-skills requirements and recommendations for follow-up actions at EU and national level.