On 2 July 2025, the STE(A)M ATLAS conference brought together a diverse and dynamic community of educators, researchers, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of STE(A)M education in Europe. This high-level gathering marked the culmination of three years of collaborative work by three Horizon Europe-funded projects, Road-STEAMer, The SEER, and SENSE, working under the same funding call to build a more inclusive, interdisciplinary, and impactful approach to STE(A)M learning.
The event, co-organised with the support of the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation (DG RTD) and DG Education and Culture (DG EAC), served as a platform for unveiling the three Roadmaps for STE(A)M Education, developed by the sister projects. Each roadmap aims to shape a new mission-oriented vision for education, complementing each other: one that is skills-focused, transdisciplinary, and inclusive—leveraging AI, digital technologies, and collaborative ecosystems to drive systemic innovation.
Opening Remarks and Strategic Vision
The day opened with welcoming words from Maria Mecenero, Policy Officer at DG RTD, who emphasised the Commission’s continued commitment to innovation in education. This was followed by a compelling keynote by Francesca Maltauro, Deputy Head of Unit for Digital Education at DG EAC, who presented the EU STEM Education Strategic Plan, a cornerstone of the broader #UnionOfSkills initiative.
A Collective Atlas of Ideas and Action
A highlight of the day was the expert roundtable discussion, moderated by Maria Podlasek-Ziegler (Policy Officer, School Education and Multilingualism, DG EAC), which featured insights from:
- Anne Krebs (Musée du Louvre, Paris),
- Claudia Carter (Birmingham City University),
- Cassie Hague (OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation),
- Zbigniew Karpiński (Polish Academy of Sciences).
Together, they reflected on the challenges and opportunities for embedding STE(A)M principles across educational systems in Europe, including inclusivity, creativity, wellbeing, and collaboration with cultural and scientific institutions.
Participatory and Forward-Looking Sessions
The event was structured to promote co-creation and participation. Parallel sessions throughout the day focused on:
- Rethinking learning spaces to support diverse needs, including sensory-sensitive and autism-friendly environments.
- Strengthening career pathways, life design tools, and entrepreneurship education in collaboration with industries and organisations.
- Exploring the use of AI, blended learning, and digital tools for accessible, equitable STE(A)M education.
An afternoon spotlight session celebrated the synergies between the three sister projects, highlighting their complementary contributions to policy recommendations, capacity-building resources, and innovative teaching frameworks.
Collaboration at the Core
More than a policy showcase, the STE(A)M ATLAS event was a celebration of collaboration: a value central to both the process and the outcomes of the Road-STEAMer, SENSE, and SEER projects. As Roberta Monachello (Project Officer, European Research Executive Agency) noted, the joint organisation of the event was itself a testament to the power of working across projects and sectors to create shared visions and actionable strategies.
Looking Ahead
As the Horizon Europe projects enter their final stages, the work presented at the STE(A)M ATLAS event lays critical foundations for future EU initiatives in education. Participants left the event energized and committed to sustaining and scaling these efforts through long-term partnerships, policy engagement, and continued innovation.
One day. Three roadmaps. Countless ideas.
The STE(A)M ATLAS has begun to chart a new course for education in Europe, one that is bold, inclusive, and fit for the challenges of tomorrow.
