At the EDSA25 ceremony in Brussels on 12 November, the European Commission honoured five initiatives advancing digital skills across Europe. The awards highlight efforts helping Europeans acquire both fundamental and advanced digital competences.
This year’s winners showcase a broad spectrum of approaches, from AI literacy for media professionals to inclusive programmes supporting older adults, young learners, underserved communities and girls in STEM.
The EBU Academy School of AI won in the Digital Upskilling @ Work category for its Europe-wide curriculum designed to strengthen AI literacy among public service media professionals.
In Digital Skills for Education, Escape Fake was recognised for its augmented reality game that teaches media literacy to young people. The project blends interactive storytelling with teacher training and educational resources.
The Cybersecurity Skills award went to Digital Angel, a German initiative that supports older adults in gaining confidence with everyday digital tools. Through mobile outreach and personalised guidance, it has reached more than 25,000 people and demonstrated strong potential for regional replication.
Austria’s Digital Everywhere received the award for Inclusion in the Digital World. The nationwide programme provides free workshops that strengthen basic digital skills among adults, particularly in rural and underserved areas. With thousands of sessions delivered and high participant satisfaction, it continues to expand through new formats.
In the Women in ICT Careers category, Portugal’s Women Engineers for a Day was recognised for encouraging girls aged 12–18 to explore STEM and ICT fields. Since 2017, the initiative has engaged around 22,000 students through hundreds of hands-on activities in partnership with schools, universities and industry.
The 2025 awards underscore Europe’s growing momentum in digital skills development and the importance of inclusive, community-driven approaches to preparing citizens for the digital future.
