An EdTech Policy Map for innovation in European education
Across Europe, innovation in education remains unevenly distributed. Fragmented ecosystems, unclear responsibilities, gaps in digital skills, limited evidence infrastructures, misaligned incentives, and a lack of sustainable funding mechanisms continue to slow progress. At the same time, many successful initiatives already exist that demonstrate how these challenges can be addressed.
Today, the European EdTech Alliance launches the EdTech Policy Map, a new interactive, web-based tool designed to bring these needs and existing efforts together. The Map focuses on what it takes to enable intentional, well-supported innovation in education that is firmly aligned with European values.
The EdTech Policy Map aims to create better conditions for EdTech startups and SMEs to develop high-quality, needs-based tools, while supporting educational institutions in selecting, evaluating, and adopting technologies that genuinely improve learning and teaching.
From strategy to action
The EdTech Policy Map builds on the European EdTech Ecosystem Roadmap Report, developed through the EmpowerED project and funded by the European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme. While the Roadmap sets out strategic recommendations, the Policy Map translates them into a living, practical tool that can be used and enriched over time.
Structured around five interconnected goals, the Map combines:
concrete policy recommendations for action
enabling conditions
potential roadblocks
inspiring examples of good practice from across Europe
Together, these elements provide a clearer picture of how sustainable, responsible innovation in education can be supported at EU, national, regional, and local levels.
Designed for policymakers and the wider ecosystem
Primarily designed for policymakers, the EdTech Policy Map serves as a starting point for dialogue, collaboration, and continuous learning. It helps decision-makers better understand how to support EdTech startups and SMEs so that meaningful innovation can take place in schools, universities, and other learning environments.
At the same time, the Map highlights pathways for supporting other ecosystem stakeholders, including education and training providers, researchers, and intermediary organisations. Collaboration across these groups is essential to make educational institutions innovation-ready.
The EdTech Policy Map Five Goals
Five goals for a stronger European EdTech ecosystem
The EdTech Policy Map is organised around five interlinked objectives:
Key stakeholders have a nuanced understanding of digital education.
EdTech is designed to serve clear educational purposes and European values.
EdTech adoption across Europe’s educational institutions is guided by intentional and evidence-based decisions.
Evidence is used to develop, select, and implement EdTech tools and services.
Knowledge is shared across the European EdTech ecosystem.
Together, these goals reflect a shared conviction: Europe needs intentional, value-aligned innovation in education, not innovation for innovation’s sake.
A living tool shaped by the community
The EdTech Policy Map is not a static publication. As an interactive policy mapping tool, it invites engagement from across Europe. Policymakers, practitioners, EdTech organisations, and other stakeholders can explore the Map in full or jump directly to the areas most relevant to their work. They are also encouraged to submit examples of successful policies and initiatives, helping to continuously improve the collective understanding of what works.
While the EmpowerED project is coming to an end, its legacy continues through this tool and the collective effort it is designed to inspire.
The EdTech Policy Map is publicly available at: https://www.edtechmap.eu/policyroadmap
- Bielefeld / Europe -
