AI Skills for SMEs at the EDIH Summit in Brussels

AISHA coordinator Gianluca Misuraca joined the discussion on how European Digital Innovation Hubs can help small businesses develop the skills to use AI effectively.

The EDIH Summit 2026, held in Brussels on 9 and 10 June, examined how Europe’s AI innovation ecosystem can support practical adoption. On 10 June, AISHA coordinator Gianluca Misuraca took part in the panel “EDIHs and the AI-ready workforce: AI skills in SMEs and next steps”.

The panel brought together representatives of Robocoast EDIH in Finland, Tuscany X.0 in Italy, the European DIGITAL SME Alliance and the European Commission’s DG CONNECT. AISHA’s account of the session highlighted a recurring challenge: Europe needs stronger coordination among the AI skills initiatives already in place.

The discussion pointed to the need for professional profiles combining technical understanding with business judgement, training rooted in specific sectors and workplaces, and closer connections between skills development and policy. These priorities are especially relevant to small and medium-sized enterprises, where adopting AI depends on people being able to assess its uses and apply it in day-to-day work.

Italy’s national AI legislation illustrates why these competences matter. Article 11 of Law No. 132/2025 requires workplace AI use to respect safety, transparency, personal data and workers’ rights, and requires employers to inform workers in the circumstances specified by the applicable legislation. Meeting such obligations calls for people who can understand how systems are used, assess risks and coordinate technical, legal and organisational responsibilities. For SMEs, this means developing access to AI governance, ethics and data-protection expertise, whether through existing staff or external support.

ADRA, an associated partner of AISHA, offered a complementary perspective in its Summit reflections. It emphasised the role of EDIHs in connecting AI, data and robotics innovation with practical use by industry, particularly SMEs. This reinforces the link between access to technology and the skills needed to make effective use of it.

For AISHA, which is building the European AI Skills Academy, these priorities connect directly with planned vocational, workplace and sector-specific training. They also point to an opportunity for European leadership: translating AI capabilities into reliable applications across industrial supply chains, local businesses and public services. Alongside competition in foundation models and general-purpose platforms, Europe can build a distinctive position through sector expertise and effective deployment—a direction reflected in the EU’s Apply AI Strategy. Connecting training with organisations that support businesses locally can help turn that opportunity into practical capability and economic value.

The EDIH Network has published Summit materials, including session findings, recordings and presentations, for those wishing to revisit the discussions.