The EXCEED International Talent Factory in Advanced Manufacturing is an innovative, future-oriented ecosystem designed to unlock, develop, and empower talent in Advanced Manufacturing, one of the key sectors driving Europe’s green and digital transition.

Understanding Territorial Policies and Strategic Priorities

The connection with supportive and adaptive territorial policies for Talent Attraction and retention is explored mainly in D2.5 Report on co-creation of adaptive policies and strategies
The first stage focused on analysing existing national and regional policies related to talent attraction, development and retention across the EXCEED partners countries.
This analysis led to the development of a common methodology for the co-creation of adaptive policies, enabling public authorities, VET providers and territorial stakeholders to identify common challenges, define strategic priorities and translate them into coordinated Action Plans.
Outcome A shared policy framework for adaptive and evidence-based talent strategies; Policies on talent attraction, development and retention; adaptive policies and Action Plans

The Talent Attraction Management (TAM) Ecosystem

Through deliverable D2.6 International Talent Factory in Advance Manufacturing, the EXCEED Talent Factory explores which “conditions” across the countries of the Centre of Vocational Excellence, can support and even boost effective talent management strategies.

Drawing on the Talent Attraction Management (TAM) approach, EXCEED developed the International Talent Factory Matrix, that helps territories understand how different actors, VET providers, enterprises, public services and local communities, can contribute to making territories more attractive, supportive and capable of retaining talent.
The Talent Factory Matrix is described in detail in Deliverable D2.6 and is presented below within this website section, where its structure and components can be explored. The matrix was developed as a practical and operational instrument to map the information, services, support measures and territorial conditions that can influence the capacity of a region to attract, welcome, integrate and retain learners and talents. It is based on the idea that talent attraction and retention require a broader ecosystem approach. In this perspective, territories are understood as interconnected environments where education and training providers, companies, public authorities, innovation actors and civil society jointly contribute to the experience of learners and future workers.
Outcome: Talent Attraction Management approach; the International Talent Factory Matrix

Integrating the Talent Factory into Vocational Education and Training

D3.7 International Talent Factory- Operational Plan explores in detail the approach followed in EXCEED to transfor the VET systems into a Talent Management System, reinforcing the capacity building of VET providers. This model represent the VET excellence model of the EXCEED Centre of Vocational Excellence.

The Talent Factory is a dynamic, learner-centred mode; it connects Vocational Education, industry, and local ecosystem’s stakeholders, to create real pathways from learning to employment. By combining local strengths with global perspectives, it helps regions grow their own talent while opening doors to international opportunities.
At the heart of the model is a personalized Talent Journey. Learners follow a tailored path, guided by an Individual Talent Development Plan, being supported from discovering their potential, building advanced technical and transversal competences, to achieving strong employability in the AM sectors. Through hands-on experiences, work-based learning, and close collaboration with companies, learning becomes practical, engaging, and directly connected to real-world challenges.
The Talent Factory build “T-shaped professionals”, with strong technical capabilities and a wide range of complex transversal skills. These are the profiles companies are looking for, and the ones shaping the future of manufacturing, being able to ground innovation while working.
In the EXCEED Talent Factory approach, Enterprises are not just partners, but co-creators of talent: through a structured Co-responsibility Pact with VET providers and learners; they actively contribute to training, mentoring, and innovation, ensuring that competences match real industry needs while accelerating employability, and sustainable competitiveness.

The Talent Factory is a dynamic, learner-centred mode; it connects Vocational Education, industry, and local ecosystem’s stakeholders, to create real pathways from learning to employment. By combining local strengths with global perspectives, it helps regions grow their own talent while opening doors to international opportunities.
At the heart of the model is a personalized Talent Journey. Learners follow a tailored path, guided by an Individual Talent Development Plan, being supported from discovering their potential, building advanced technical and transversal competences, to achieving strong employability in the AM sectors. Through hands-on experiences, work-based learning, and close collaboration with companies, learning becomes practical, engaging, and directly connected to real-world challenges.
The Talent Factory build “T-shaped professionals”, with strong technical capabilities and a wide range of complex transversal skills. These are the profiles companies are looking for, and the ones shaping the future of manufacturing, being able to ground innovation while working.
In the EXCEED Talent Factory approach, Enterprises are not just partners, but co-creators of talent: through a structured Co-responsibility Pact with VET providers and learners; they actively contribute to training, mentoring, and innovation, ensuring that competences match real industry needs while accelerating employability, and sustainable competitiveness.