Key takeaways from the COMMIT Interreg Conference in IJmond

As Europe moves toward a low-carbon future, one of the greatest challenges we face is not just technological but human: How do we ensure today’s workforce is ready for tomorrow’s green economy?

The COMMIT Interreg Conference was hosted at Tata Steel on March 24th. Tata Steel is one of the biggest employers in the IJmond region, who is also responsible for 8% of the national Co2 emissions of the Netherlands. The company has ambitious goals of going green within 2030;  It has expressed ambitions to produce hydrogen-based green steel by 2030 and the first steps are now being taken in this direction.

The event brought together a dynamic mix of policymakers, business leaders, educators, and workforce development experts from across Europe to discuss how we can best equip workers with the skills needed for sustainable jobs.

Organised by Gemeente Rotterdam and Kansen voor West, the seminar provided a platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing best practices, and exploring policy frameworks that support inclusive, future-oriented job creation.

Reskilling for Green Industries

Tata Steel’s transition to Green Steel requires more than clean technologies like Hydrogen. It also demands a fundamental shift in workforce capabilities. Many of the jobs of the future don’t even exist yet, but reskilling workers for roles in emerging sectors is one of the most pressing challenges ahead.

Speakers highlighted the urgent need for proactive and systemic efforts to prepare the workforce at all levels - not just through financing and technical training, but also through soft skills and adaptability.

Good Practices: The case of Energy Innovation Norway

Frank Emil Moen, CEO of Energy Innovation AS, joined Rogaland County Council and Energy Transition Norway in the Norwegian delegation attending the conference.

Running a Centre of Excellence for operation and maintenance, training, GWO certification, and education in the field of on- and offshore wind energy, his presentation was centred around efforts to strengthen competence and safety in the wind industry in Norway and beyond.

Moen highlighted the global challenge of securing enough qualified personnel to meet the ambitious offshore wind development targets. According to Moen, the industry will need 500,000 skilled workers globally by 2030 to deliver on planned capacity expansions.

Best practices for a just and inclusive transition

When workforce is scarce, inclusion becomes a bigger driver of innovation than ever. Attendees learned about practical initiatives such as job carving at Soci-Com, where roles are tailored to individuals’ strengths, helping people with barriers to employment find meaningful work.

Another inspiring example was the targeted effort to empower women in technical fields, breaking down gender barriers and expanding the talent pool for industries in need of skilled workers.

Inclusive workforce development is not just about equity—it’s about economic resilience, one speaker noted:

- Investing in people is the most sustainable investment we can make.

Funding for the green transition

The IJmond region has received €58.5 million from the Just Transition Fund, supporting green innovation, infrastructure, and skills development. But while the funding provides an unprecedented opportunity, there is a shared recognition that more must be done to ensure accessibility particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are the stakeholders in the COMMIT project.

Cutting red tape, simplifying application procedures, and fostering cross-sector partnerships to ensure the fund reaches those who need it most, were identified as important strategies to reach this goal.

It’s all about the people

As we embrace new technologies and redefine industries, we must ensure that our policies and investments are designed to serve workers – not leaving them behind.

That means cultivating adaptability, collaboration, and lifelong learning across all sectors, strengthening cooperation between governments, educators, businesses, and social partners, and ensuring that sustainability and inclusivity go hand in hand.