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EUROPEAN EDTECH POLICY MAP

GOAL 2
EdTech is designed to serve clear educational purposes and European values.

In Europe’s fragmented education landscape, responsibility for EdTech often falls between different players (e.g. European Commission directorates or national and regional ministries), leading to unclear governance and coordination. Clearer coordination between different stakeholders can accelerate support and reduce friction across national systems. 

This often results in insufficient support for EdTech development and implementation (for example in relation to funding, in lacking opportunities to test tools and services before scaling, and in addressing skills and knowledge gaps). Ultimately, this can create a mismatch between educators’ needs and the tools and services being developed for the market.

If this goal is achieved:

  • Developers can create tools and services grounded in learning sciences and pedagogical principles, as well as technical capability, ensuring tools are designed to serve clear educational purposes (like critical thinking, equity, wellbeing) rather than optimising for engagement metrics or commercial goals alone.
     

  • Diverse innovators (not just well-capitalised companies) can participate in EdTech creation, and development can be oriented toward public good and European values rather than purely profit-driven models, as well as pedagogical needs that do not promise immediate financial returns.

For further reading and context on this topic, see the following sources:

  • Attewell, J. & Léauté, R. (2023). Validating EdTech prototypes and products with educators and learners: a practical guide”, December 2023, European Schoolnet, Brussels.
     

  • Atomico (2023). The State of European Tech 2023. Atomico Ltd., in partnership with Orrick, HSBC Innovation Banking, and Slush. 
     

  • European Edtech Alliance (2022). Necessary foundations for sustainable public-private partnerships that enable effective digital education solutions. European Edtech Alliance. Bielefeld, Germany.
     

  • Council of Europe (2023). Guidelines to support equitable partnerships of education institutions and the private sector. Council of Europe. Strasbourg, France. 
     

  • EmpowerED project (2024). State of Play of EdTech & the European EdTech Ecosystem, December 2024, European EdTech Alliance, Germany. 
     

  • EmpowerED project (2025, unpublished report). State of Play of EdTech & the EdTech Ecosystem in Europe 2025, European EdTech Alliance, Germany. 
    Havinga, B. & Clary, A. (2024). The European EdTech Ecosystem Roadmap: Towards Excellence in Educational Innovation. European EdTech Alliance. Bielefeld, Germany. 
     

  • OECD (2023). Shaping Digital Education: Enabling Factors for Quality, Equity and Efficiency. OECD Publishing, Paris. 
     

  • Winsborn, J., Åkerfeldt A., Karlén, J., Andersson, P. & Rosenqvist, C. (2023). Navigating the EdTech Landscape: from product quality development to business success in the EU market, December 2023, Ifous, Sweden. 

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