MATES is a €4.9 million Erasmus+ funded Sector Skills Alliance project. 

MATES’ objective is to develop a skills strategy that addresses the main drivers of change to the maritime industry, in particular shipbuilding and offshore renewable energy. Both sectors are strongly linked and require new capacities to succeed in an increasingly digital, green and knowledge driven economy.

MATES has 17 partners from eight counties and is led by Centro Tecnológico del Mar (­­­Fundación CETMAR), Spain.

Expected results and impact

• Development of a long-term Strategy and Action Plan to tackle the current and future skills shortages.
• Establishment and involvement of a Europe-wide network of projects, initiatives, organisations and experts.
• Identification of future skills and competence needs and the development of corresponding training and curricula.
• Greater alignment of industry needs and occupational profiles with training and curricula.
• Validation of training and education pathways for effectively increasing employability and career opportunities.
• Successful completion of 11 Pilot Experiences and identification of recommendations for the long-term strategy.
• Targeted industries better equipped to respond to challenges posed by digital, data and green technologies, through access to a more qualified labour force.
• Greater resilience in the maritime job market and the safeguarding of stable employment in the shipbuilding and offshore renewable energy sectors.
• A more competitive European maritime industry with increased attractiveness of maritime careers for graduates and early-career skilled workers.
• Transfer and exploitation of knowledge in support of Blue Growth.