The INAIR project is making significant strides in advancing AI adoption within the European retail sector. Since its launch in January 2024, the project has successfully delivered on several key objectives, reinforcing its commitment to upskilling MSMEs in AI proficiency to support digital transformation.

Milestone Highlights and Achievements

Research on AI Skills Needs and Gaps: A major milestone was achieved with the completion of a comprehensive analysis of AI skill needs for MSMEs across Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Romania. The research work - conducted by sociologists, economists and data scientists from the Digital Economy Lab of the University of Warsaw and supported by the other consortium members, included desk research and co-creation workshops with relevant industry experts, complemented by a comprehensive literature review, the analysis of nearly 45,000 job advertisements relevant to AI in retail and statistical analysis on AI implementation within MSMEs in the countries studied. The report, available on Zenodo at this link, provides critical insights into industry requirements and AI readiness, forming the basis for INAIR’s training initiatives.

Engagement and collaborations: The project consortium has been actively engaged in various dissemination efforts to promote the findings and insights from the INAiR project to a wider audience, from presentations at European events to industry webinars. The project was also presented to key representatives from the European Commission’s DG GROW, UNIEuropa, EuroCommerce, and JA Europe during meetings focused on the Pact 4 Skills’ Large-Scale Partnership for the Retail Ecosystem. Researchers from DELab shared insights from their comprehensive study on AI skills gaps in retail, sparking interest among EU policymakers.

Next Steps

Looking ahead, the project consortium will concentrate on delivering the AI Core Curriculum by early 2025 and advancing towards the AI Skills Assessment Tool. As we continue, INAIR is on track to meet its project goals, providing the retail sector with valuable AI skills training that aligns with Europe’s digital and green transition objectives.

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