“The satisfaction comes when you finally see everything working and your creation becomes more significant than the time you invested.”
The EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative aims to skill and upskill one million individuals by the end of 2025, and this ambitious goal requires a dynamic ecosystem and active participation from Pledgers. How do people find us and how do we promote our activities, especially in communities that may not see themselves as part of the deep tech world, are some questions and part of the main challenges of the Initiative. In this sense, our growing network of Pledgers and their participation play a key role and contribute to this outreach efforts by spreading information and getting involved.
In our latest interview, we discussed these questions with Dr Clare Walsh, Director of Education, of our newly joined Pledger, the Institute of Analytics (IoA). A global not-for-profit professional body for the analytics & data science community who are committed to fostering the growth and development of deep tech talent across diverse demographics.
While Clare is responsible for the conception, development and implementation of educational content at IoA , and is frequently invited to speak at international conferences and works in collaboration with data leaders to design data upskilling solutions, she is, in her role, most often confronted with questions on how to ensure the best visibility to the offering of the IoA.
Clare said: “I oversee a lot of support work to ensure people feel supported and complete their training. The initiative is fantastic, emphasizing that it’s for everyone, not just those who fit a specific mould. AI isn’t about creating fun images for social media; it’s about addressing fundamental societal questions. The opportunities in deep tech are amazing, also offering the best salaries and career growth.”
Deep tech
She emphasised that the deep tech field requires a different set of learning skills, where making mistakes and finding your own support within the community are part of the journey. And her message was straight to the point: “Deep tech is a field where everyone is there to help, even though finding help can sometimes be challenging. So, it’s important for students to understand that perseverance is key.”
Clare explained that she didn’t study computer science as a young adult and came into deep tech later in life. However, she was fortunate to be trained by some of the biggest names in computing, like Professor Tim Berners-Lee and Dame Wendy Hall, who recognised the need for diverse perspectives in technology and started training people from various backgrounds. “It’s this diverse perspective that is crucial in deep tech, allowing for innovative solutions and creative problem-solving.” Clare said: “It’s about belonging and having the perseverance to keep going, knowing that you bring unique value to the community.”
She continued: “In terms of skills required, rigor and attention to detail are crucial. A single mistake can cause everything to fail. It’s also important to be open to different ways of solving problems and to communicate with your community to find the best solutions. Learning in deep tech is cyclical; it’s about revisiting and refining your work constantly.”
Transitioning from university to the workplace
Clare acknowledged that the transition from university to the workplace can be challenging, with many graduates facing a plateau and working in jobs that don’t fully utilise their skills. This means it’s important for them to keep building skills and maintaining a positive trajectory, even if their first job isn’t ideal. Additionally, the deep tech field requires continual learning and adaptation, so support from initiatives like the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative can help bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
Clare believes that Pledgers in this Initiative should provide opportunities for learning and career advancement. “Our training breaks things down into small, manageable pieces with immediate feedback, which is very motivational.” She also highlighted the importance of continuous support on individuals’ careers. “We also have career guidance coming soon, which will be more structured and formalised, helping individuals understand the skills in demand and how to position themselves in the job market.”
The Deep Tech Talent Initiative
The Deep Tech Talent Initiative aims to create a welcoming and supportive community for everyone entering this field. It’s about celebrating each person’s journey and ensuring they feel they belong. Addressing the skills gap efficiently involves recognising the value of diverse backgrounds and training people in those fields to understand deep technologies. This way, it stops being a mismatch of skills and becomes a natural integration of expertise and technical ability, solving the problem of finding the right people for the right jobs.
If you would like to join the EIT Deep Tech Talent Pledger Community, join the Pledge here.
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