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The ultimate objective of this study is to help reducing innovation skills shortages, gaps and mismatches in Europe, by providing sound, unbiased empirical evidence how the supply and demand for different types of e-skills is evolving in Europe, acknowledging the importance of e-skills for competitiveness and innovation. To this end, the study will develop a shared, coherent vision how supply and demand may evolve under different economic scenarios. This evidence shall encourage and facilitate the dialogue and cooperation between policy makers and relevant stakeholders at the EU and national levels about the implications and required actions to be taken to address skills gaps and shortages.

The study has to be seen against the Communication on “e-Skills for the 21st Century” which the European Commission adopted in September 2007 and which includes a long term e-skills agenda for Europe and five action lines at the EU level. Under the first action line ‘Promoting long-term cooperation and monitoring progress’ the Commission explicitly refers to its ambition and goal of “monitoring the supply and demand of e-skills in partnership with Eurostat and stakeholders and assessing the impact of global sourcing. An annual report will be released presenting a synthesis of the situation based on existing indicators, focusing mainly on ICT practitioner skills, and on e-business skills surveys”. The present study will provide relevant contributions for this activity.

The evaluation of the implementation of the Communication for the period 2007-2010 demonstrated that good progress has been made and that Member States are increasingly developing e-skills strategies.

Moreover, important e-skills activities have been included the "Digital Agenda for Europe" and "Innovation Union" which were adopted in 2010. It is recognised that "more needs to be done to address innovation skills shortages and to implement the European e-skills agenda. This is crucial to accelerate the development and the adoption of innovative business models by European enterprises, especially SMEs".

This service contract is also part of the activities of the European Commission to promote e-skills for innovation and competitiveness based on partnerships with stakeholders.