Europe is investing billions in innovation, digitalisation and transformation. Programmes are being set up, strategies formulated and technologies advanced. And yet, in practice, a surprisingly simple problem keeps cropping up: the primary shortfall is not in knowledge or technology – it is in the ability to put that knowledge to effective use collectively.
A Europe-wide survey in 8 sample regions conducted as part of the x-Inno Radar project highlights precisely this. It reveals what many already suspect but rarely articulate so clearly: the crucial skills for the future are not purely technical. It is skills such as communication, problem-solving and collaboration that determine whether organisations and regions are actually capable of taking action and remaining competitive. Around three-quarters of respondents cite precisely these skills as central to their professional success.
At the same time, there is broad consensus that these so-called soft skills are just as important as technical qualifications. And yet, in practice, they are often systematically neglected. The majority of respondents have never received structured training in this area. Instead, these skills develop ‘along the way’ – in day-to-day work, through experience, and sometimes by chance.
This has consequences. For it is precisely where soft skills are lacking that the greatest challenges arise: in internal communication, in dealing with technological change, in retaining staff, or in matters of work organisation. These problems are not peripheral issues. They affect the very core of how organisations function – and thus, ultimately, the capacity for development of entire regions.
Against this backdrop, it becomes clear that this is not a matter of individual shortcomings, but a structural issue. If soft skills are predominantly acquired informally, their development depends heavily on the specific environment: on corporate cultures, on leadership, and on regional networks. Where these factors are favourable, strong competencies emerge. Where they are lacking, potential remains untapped.
This is precisely where the x-Inno toolbase comes in. It not only provides data but also highlights differences – between regions, between work cultures, and between approaches to development. These differences are crucial because they demonstrate that there can be no one-size-fits-all solution. Whilst some regions already have a well-established culture of learning and training, others are still in the early stages or view the issue with scepticism.
This raises a key political and strategic question: How can framework conditions be created that systematically promote the development of soft skills – rather than leaving it to chance?
The answers lie less in individual measures than in an integrated approach. The aim is to embed soft skills as an integral part of educational and workplace structures. The study* clearly shows that an overwhelming majority of respondents would like to see greater integration in schools, universities and businesses. This is a clear indication that not only is there a need here, but that there is also societal acceptance for change.
At the same time, spaces are needed in which these skills can be developed in practice: through cross-disciplinary projects, through mentoring, through targeted training programmes, or through experimental settings in which collaboration and learning are deliberately structured. Many of the respondents cite precisely such approaches as effective.
In this context, new forms of support are also gaining in importance. Digital tools – and, in the future, AI-supported systems too – can help to identify needs more precisely and develop measures in a more targeted manner. It is crucial, however, that these technologies are understood not as a substitute for, but as an enhancement of human skills.
Ultimately, all this leads to a sobering but important realisation: innovation does not arise solely from technology or investment. It arises where people are able to think, decide and act together.
If regional development is to be taken seriously, then it is precisely these skills that must be given greater focus – not as a supplement, but as the foundation.