D10.1 User groups skills gap report and training paths

Deliverable D10.1, developed under Work Package 10 (WP10) – Skills Development and Standardisation, provides the foundation for the ICARUS capacity-building strategy, aimed at supporting the green and digital transition of process industries. The document identifies user groups, maps their existing competences, and assesses skills gaps across different professional profiles, establishing a clear baseline for the design of modular and flexible training pathways. The analysis focused on four key user profiles — blue-collar workers, engineers and managers, researchers and trainers, and policymakers — and mapped their skills against the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The results highlight significant gaps in technical, digital, and regulatory competencies, particularly in the areas of sustainable product development, digitalisation and real-time optimisation, and compliance with environmental and circular economy regulations. These gaps represent critical barriers to the large-scale implementation of Industrial Symbiosis (IS) and Circular Economy (CE) models within the ICARUS demonstration sectors (steel, ceramics, and construction).