When education is erased - European EdTech Alliance Monthly Briefing may '25
When education is erased and EdTech doesn’t exist.
Across Europe, education, and with it EdTech, is being quietly erased from strategic focus. At the EU level, the role once focused explicitly on education has been restructured under a broader portfolio titled “People, Skills, and Preparedness” and research has been separated and moved to a portfolio encompassing startups and innovation. In Germany, the Federal Ministry responsible for Education and Research has been renamed the Ministry for Research, Technology and Space Travel.
In the EU Commission’s newly published Startup and Scaleup Strategy, EdTech is entirely absent, despite its important role in addressing teacher shortages, promoting accessibility and inclusion, and supporting digital readiness. We were informed that this omission is not significant, since other sectors were also left out. But there are issues with that response:
Words shape priorities. Titles define mandates. Absence leads to inaction.
This matters. When education and EdTech are not named, they risk being excluded from strategy, funding, and focus. Without clear political ownership, the sector loses visibility and accountability. Startups lack a reference point for support and alignment. Policymakers miss opportunities to address urgent challenges with proven tools. If these issues are ignored, the consequences will be felt by the 93.3 million pupils, the 5.4 million teachers, and the entire education system across Europe.
Beth Havinga
Managing Director, European Edtech Alliance
EEA Outreach
Webinar: How should Europe evaluate EdTech?
📅 17 June | 🕚 11:00–12:00 CET | 💻 Online
The European EdTech Alliance and the Council of Europe are co-hosting a webinar on 17 June to discuss current approaches to the evaluation of EdTech in Europe. The session will present findings from two complementary initiatives:
📕 The EdTech Strategy Lab’s 2024 report, exploring evidence-based approaches to building trust and EdTech evaluation systems, based on a year of research and consultation
📘 The Council of Europe’s feasibility study for a European Reference Framework for the Evaluation of AI Systems in Education.
We will discuss the outcomes of research and workshops exploring the needs for evaluation mechanisms for EdTech tools that align to ensure human rights, democracy and the rule of the law are protected, and national contexts, needs and requirements can be addressed.
Female EdTech Fellowship
Early-Stage track now open
Applications are open for the 8-week digital fellowship for early-stage female founders in Early Childhood, K-12, and Higher Education.
This fellowship is not just a course, but a transformative journey designed to empower and equip you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to launch and scale your EdTech solutions.
During the fellowship, you will:
🟣 Learn how to craft a compelling and airtight go-to-market strategy that resonates with your target audience and ensures sustainable growth,
🟣 Create invaluable connections and join an inspiring network of like-minded peers, mentors, and industry experts who will provide unwavering support, guidance, and collaboration opportunities,
🟣 Explore possibilities of further product development and breaking down market barriers.
Early-Stage track will help you transform your idea into a thriving, impactful business. Join the community of innovators!
🗓 10 days left: Apply or nominate female founder by June 15, 2025!
EmpowerED
Contribute to our surveys and change policy
Long sales cycles. Small teams. Funding gaps. Fragmented procurement processes. A lack of testbeds. Limited access to reliable market data. These aren’t the exception in EdTech, they’re the norm. Through the EU-funded EmpowerED project, we’re working to advocate for policies that support the real needs of EdTech founders based on evidence, not assumptions.
📝 The EEA is compiling a final report to inform the next Digital Europe Programme and guide policymakers across Europe. Your input will help us get it right.
Take a few minutes to share your experience:
👉 5-minute survey on funding realities
https://fje0ieoadu7.typeform.com/to/DI3Yd6MC
👉 4-minute survey on testing and evaluation
https://fje0ieoadu7.typeform.com/to/iSUfvlGU
👉 3-minute survey on procurement and scaling
https://fje0ieoadu7.typeform.com/to/TUhBmYh3
All three surveys are open until 30 September 2025.
Let’s make sure EdTech policy and support systems reflect the people building its future: YOU.
EdTech Evaluation in Practice
📍 21 May – EmpowerED Workshop in Helsinki
Co-hosted by the European EdTech Alliance, OAMK, Ifous, and Helsinki Education Hub, this full-day workshop explored how EdTech is evaluated before, during, and after adoption within the Finnish education system.
Key discussion points included:
Interoperability as a national priority
The need for shared language and continuous exchange
Time constraints and fragmentation in decision-making
Participants also visited TEKLA, Helsinki’s mobile testbed for classroom-based EdTech co-development.
EmpowerED is a project funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
EEA in Action
Data Protection & Privacy: New EEA Taskforce Launched
The European EdTech Alliance has launched a Data Protection & Privacy Taskforce to support members in addressing regulatory developments and strengthening responsible data use across the sector.
👥 👏 We welcome our taskforce leaders:
The group brings together representatives from national EdTech associations and experts committed to practical, collaborative approaches.
Supporting Ukraine’s EU Accession 🇺🇦
On 30 April 2025, Ukraine successfully completed its official screening under Chapter 26 of the EU accession negotiations, focusing on education, training, youth, and culture. To support this milestone, European EdTech Alliance Chairwoman Jannie Jeppesen participated in two days of expert mock sessions held in Brussels, providing analytical input and peer feedback to strengthen the clarity and coherence of Ukraine’s presentation.
📖 Read more.
📍 GITEX Europe 2025 – EdTech & Digital Policy
At GITEX Europe in Berlin, the EEA followed high-level sessions on AI, cybersecurity, and data governance, topics increasingly shaping the EdTech environment. The EEA was excited to be a community partner of the event.
📖 Read our reflections here!
Open calls & opportunities
🏆 GSCA 2025 | Call for EdTech Startup Coaches
The GSCA 2025 Coach Awards celebrate the work of startup coaches across Europe. Coaching, not mentoring: the focus is on startup-led thinking and long-term growth. The programme runs from 30 June to 12 December 2025, with the top three coaches receiving a share of $200,000. The results will be announced during Bett UK 2026.
📅 Application deadline: 13 June 2025
Investment News: May highlights from across Europe
The EdTech and Future of Work landscape across Europe remains dynamic, with several significant funding rounds announced in recent weeks. Here’s a snapshot:
🇳🇴 Pistachio (Norway) raised $7 million in a Series A round led by Walter Ventures to scale their fully automated cybersecurity awareness training platform.
🇩🇰 Alice.tech (Denmark) secured $4.8 million in a seed round led by Cherry Ventures to accelerate international expansion of their AI-powered learning platform.
🇸🇪 Bright (Sweden) raised SEK 3.2 million from Foundry Ventures and others for its all-in-one digital learning environment.
🇪🇸 Shakers (Spain) completed a €14 million Series A round, backed again by Brighteye Ventures. The company is developing infrastructure to support the future of work, enabling fast and flexible access to independent talent.
Save the Date
📍 EdTech Summit Hungary
🗓 13 June 2025 | Budapest, Hungary
A leading Hungarian event connecting EdTech companies, government organizations and teachers. The summit will address AI in education, online safety, and digital innovation across Hungarian schools. 🌐 https://edtechsummit.hu/
📍 London EdTech Week
🗓 16–20 June 2025 | London, United Kingdom
A global, community-led series of events celebrating innovation in education technology. The week features conferences, hackathons, networking meet-ups, and startup showcases across the city. 🌐 https://impactx2050.com/londonedtechweek Spotlights event:📍 EdTechX Summit | County Hall, London
💻 Unlocking the Power of Accessibility: The European Accessibility Act and the Future of EdTech
🗓 June 17th at 12.00 CET | Virtual roundtable
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) marks a transformative milestone for the digital landscape across Europe. While it presents new legal and technical requirements, it also opens the door to inclusive innovation—where accessibility becomes a foundation for better experiences for all. Registration Link: https://bit.ly/RS-EAA-roundtable
📍 Digital Education Stakeholder Forum
🗓 24 June 2025 | Brussels, Belgium
Organised by the European Commission, this high-level forum will review the Digital Education Action Plan and consult stakeholders on AI and EdTech.
🌐 https://education.ec.europa.eu/event/digital-education-stakeholder-forum-2025
Recommended events:
June 11-14: Viva Technology, France
July 8th-11th: AI for Good Global Summit, Switzerland
September 10th: Nordic EdTech Summit in Malmö, Sweden
September 17th-18th: Learning Conference (L&D and HR), Stockholm, Sweden
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This newsletter is written and produced by the European Edtech Alliance. The European Edtech Alliance is a consortium of national trade associations and clusters working with founders and providers of education technology (EdTech), to support the domestic and international growth of these businesses and the innovations they represent. European EdTech News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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