DEEP CARBON SHIFT – Alliance for Deep Tech Education towards Decarbonized Cities

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The EU’s Mission: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities aims to transform 112 cities into carbon-neutral hubs by 2030. With buildings and transport accounting for over 60% of urban emissions, achieving climate neutrality requires a fundamental shift in these sectors. DEEP CARBON SHIFT recognises the pivotal role that education plays in accelerating this transition toward carbon-neutral cities and believes that spreading knowledge about the deep tech field is key to make this transformation not only possible, but also effective, sustainable, and inclusive. Furthermore, DEEP CARBON SHIFT acknowledges that European education is also responsible for providing learners with skills that meet both current and future job market needs. Therefore, the project aims to create and test 6 new curricula for HEIs and VETs which integrate knowledge about the latest technological innovations and entrepreneurship mentorship, thereby strengthening the collaboration between education and labor market and addressing societal needs. Through a co-creation process involving VETs, HEIs, RTO, and SMEs with expertise in deep tech and disciplines key for cities’ urban transformation, the project aims to integrate deep tech skills into the educational offer of VETs and HEIs - in the fields of Mobility, Green and Circular Economy, Urbanism, Perception and Inclusivity, Architecture, IoT and sensing - breaking siloed educational programmes. Additionally, inclusivity and well-being will be central to the approach, with a focus on curricula development for people with mental impairment and with content about emotional analytics and human-centered design to ensure that technological advancements prioritize both social and environmental sustainability.