The SPIRE-SAIS project in which the Water School participates has been accepted to be part of the European Union's Pact for skills.

The project brings together stakeholders from across the SPIRE community, including industry sector associations, education and training providers, research and technology organizations, research institutions, businesses and others, to enable and accelerate the adoption of industry and energy symbiosis and aims to develop a comprehensive cross-sector skills blueprint. The project seeks to describe the "blueprint on skills" for energy-intensive industries, and lists the new skills needed to address business needs and these skills gaps by sector.

The Pack for Skills is a shared commitment and approach to skills development. It is firmly anchored in the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and supports the objectives of the Green Deal and the digital transformation, as set out in the Commission's communication "A Strong Social Europe for Just Transition."

The Pact aims to mobilize and encourage public and private stakeholders to take concrete measures for the upskilling and reskilling of people of working age. Any public or private organization or association with the aim of upskilling or reskilling working-age people can join the Pact. We will respect and uphold the following key principles: Promoting a culture of lifelong learning for all, building strong skills alliances, monitoring skills supply/demand and anticipating skills needs, and working against discrimination and for gender equality and equal opportunities.

Economic, digital and technological developments, as well as increasing energy efficiency and environmental demands, present European energy-intensive industries with many challenges, including the continuous upgrading of the qualifications, knowledge and skills profile of their workforce.