Tech4Impact
Work Plan

WP1 accounts for all project management and coordination activities aiming to ensure that the project objectives are achieved, and the Erasmus+ financial rules are met. This will be accomplished with the establishment and maintenance of a compact and effective project management and coordination infrastructure.

The main objectives of WP1 are:

• Efficient and on time implementation of the project tasks, deliverables and monitor progress and earache partner contribution as well as the collaboration between partners
• Optimal Management of the financial aspects according to the EU Financial Regulation rules. Prepare financial and content-related intermediate and final reports.
• Establishment of an effective and transparent administration scheme, structures and procedures including smooth internal communication (in collaboration with WP6)
• Monitor risks and establish shared risk mitigation measures and transparent conflict resolution procedures.
• Development of Quality Assurance & Data Management Plan.

WP2 aims to identify the current needs, challenges, and skill gaps within the target group or industry. This work package involves conducting research, surveys, and stakeholder consultations to gather data on existing competencies and areas requiring improvement. The findings will guide the development of tailored training programs and strategic interventions to bridge the identified gaps effectively.

In more details:

• Assess the existing competencies of technical students in ICT, deep tech, and AI, along with their awareness of social entrepreneurship.
• Understand the demand for social innovation and entrepreneurship in the local or global context (e.g., industry trends, gaps in current offerings, or underserved areas of society).
• Map existing programs and resources (curriculum, training, mentorship) available for students who wish to focus on social entrepreneurship using technology.
• Engage stakeholders such as educators, entrepreneurs, social innovators, and industry leaders to gain insights into the needs and opportunities for students.
• Evaluate entrepreneurial skills: Identify the gaps in business, leadership, financial literacy, and management skills required for social entrepreneurship.
• Analyse understanding of social impact: Assess the level of understanding students have of social entrepreneurship principles (e.g., sustainable development, social value creation, stakeholder engagement).
• Identify the gaps between current technical training and the practical application of these skills in the context of real-world social entrepreneurship projects.
• Analyse the need for interdisciplinary skills: Understand whether students need training in combining technical, business, and social impact knowledge.
• Provide recommendations for developing curricula and training programs for HEIs and VETs that will address the identified gaps and enhance the capabilities of the target audience, ensuring they are ready for the demands of the digital and research landscapes.

WP3 focuses on designing and implementing educational frameworks, training materials, and mentorship initiatives to enhance skills and knowledge in the selected field. This work package includes developing structured curricula, organizing training sessions, and establishing mentorship programs to support participants’ learning and professional growth. The goal is to ensure high-quality capacity-building aligned with industry needs and best practices.

In more details:

• Create curriculum based on WP2 results, ensuring relevance, innovation, & alignment with market standards.
• Develop the MOOC platform to deliver the asynchronous self-paced online courses of the HE and VET curricula.
• Build a Strong Foundation in Social Entrepreneurship Principles.
• Provide students with the knowledge and tools to leverage their technical expertise in designing solutions for social challenges.
• Foster Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation to encourage creative problem-solving, resilience, and adaptability.
• Equip Students with Knowledge of Business Models and Sustainability in Social Ventures.
• Provide Practical Experience through Hands-On Training and Mentorship programs.
• Facilitate Cross-Cultural Learning and Global Impact To expose students to global perspectives on social entrepreneurship.
• Create adaptable digital-education training materials for diverse professional environments.
• Create resources to promote mentorship programs, including guidelines and best practices for both mentors and mentees.

The aim of WP4 is to design, develop and implement innovative digital tools that will support the main objectives of the project by enhancing the learning experience, and facilitating a better alignment of skills with the needs of the industry while promoting the development of a sustainable talent ecosystem for the proximity and social economy industry sector. WP4 will ensure that the tools created will be user-friendly, scalable and efficient and integrated into the wider Tech4Impact platform and philosophy.

The objectives of WP4 are basically oriented to:

• Create a digital platform that facilitates the development, management, and sustainability of a talent ecosystem aligned with industry needs and research priorities.
• Develop an AI-driven tool that matches the proximity and social industry sector skills of early-stage researchers and professionals with the demands of the industry, bridging the skills gap identified in WP2.
• Ensure the integration and optimization of performance of all Tech4Impact tools, based on user feedback.
• WP4 focuses on the technical aspects of the Tech4Impact project, creating the digital infrastructure and tools required to support the project’s training, mentoring, and industry collaboration with several stakeholders’ activities. The related activities will include both the development of new systems and the update of open-source technologies to ensure that they have a best fit with the project's specific requirements. This work package's iterative development methodology, which includes ongoing testing, feedback collecting, and optimization, is critical to ensure that the developed tools are successful, user-friendly, and aligned with project goals.

WP5 focuses on delivering structured training sessions and mentorship programs to enhance participants' skills and competencies. This work package also emphasizes the creation of a sustainable support ecosystem by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, establishing long-term mentorship networks, and ensuring the continuity of learning initiatives. The goal is to provide impactful training while building a resilient and self-sustaining professional and educational environment.

In more details:

• Fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange between key players in the social economy (entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors, public services/authorities, government bodies) and academic institutions and VET providers in the technical fields (IT, deep tech etc).
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among HEIs, VET providers, enterprises, and research institutions, building inclusive and connected education systems in technical fields like ICT, AI and deep tech, that respond to market and societal demands.
• Develop a Network of Mentors and Collaborators by establishing a robust network of social economy experts, mentors, investors, and partners (research institutions, corporate R&D departments, and innovation hubs) who can provide guidance, resources, and support for the technical students and graduates to social Entrepreneurship.
• Designing, monitoring, assessing and communicating the social impact generated by the project.
• Communicating social value generated by the project to external stakeholders and the general audience, through final project impact report and policy recommendations for.
• Increasing knowledge and skills transfer: by addressing gaps in knowledge and skills transfer, fostering a continuous flow of expertise across institutions and sectors.
• Develop policy recommendations for integrating social entrepreneurship into technical education.

WP6 concerns the dissemination and exploitation of the project activities and results. The main goal of this work package is to ensure effective communication, dissemination of the project’s outputs, and engagement of key stakeholders. It aims to:

• Raise Awareness by increasing the visibility of the project and its objectives across Europe by creating a strong project identity.
• Continuous track and adjust the effectiveness of dissemination and exploitation activities ensuring that the project will meet its visibility and impact goals. Engage Stakeholders by fostering active involvement from educational institutions, innovation hubs, industry partners, policymakers, and the general public.
• Share Knowledge and Results by disseminating findings, lessons learned, best practices, and policy recommendations to a wide audience within EU and national policymakers to influence policy and support the scaling of successful initiatives. Ensure Long-Term Impact; Establish communication channels that persist beyond the project’s lifespan, ensuring the sustainability of its outcomes.
• Fostering the effort of collaboration and knowledge exchange among key players in social economy ecosystem (entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors, academic institutions, VET providers and government bodies).
• Designing, monitoring, assessing and communicating the social impact generated by the project.
• Communicating social value generated by the project to external stakeholders and the general audience.
• Increasing knowledge and skills transfer: by addressing gaps in knowledge and skills transfer, fostering a continuous flow of expertise across institutions and sectors.
• Improving institutional Integration Policies by advocating for the development of policies that incentivize institutional partnerships between educational bodies, research institutions, and social economy players.
• Continuous track and adjust the effectiveness of dissemination and exploitation activities ensuring that the project will meet its visibility and impact goals. Engage Stakeholders by fostering active involvement from educational institutions, innovation hubs, industry partners, policymakers, and the general public.
• Ensure Long-Term Impact; Establish communication channels that persist beyond the project’s lifespan, ensuring the sustainability of its outcomes.

A dissemination plan will be developed in the initial phase of the project to define the project dissemination strategy. Moreover, an exploitation and sustainability guide will be developed during the last months of the project.