Sunrise Tech Park has engaged in the Digital Europe project MERIT, launched in 2022 with a strategic vision to address Europe’s digital skills gap. At the core of this initiative is a joint Master programme collaboratively offered by four European universities—Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain), Vilnius Tech (Lithuania), Riga Technical University (Latvia), and TALTECH (Estonia). The programme is enriched by the valuable contributions of industrial partners and stakeholders, bringing forth their expertise, research, and innovative activities.
The primary focus of MERIT is to empower society with individuals adept at understanding, managing, and innovating in technological developments, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity. The project envisions improving the quality of life in Europe by increasing the number of young contributors to the digital economy through enhanced training opportunities. MERIT recognizes the necessity of equipping the next generation with skills that enable them to navigate and lead in a digital world, addressing tomorrow’s challenges.
To ensure the quality and flexibility of student careers, MERIT partners collaborate on a unified master’s programme, offering mobility for both teachers and students, blended learning opportunities, and the integration of research aspects and market problems in practical projects, hackathons, and master’s theses. The programme further supports future career endeavors. Importantly, the MERIT ecosystem extends beyond partner countries, targeting European nations with a low Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) through the EDIH networks. Scholarships prioritize underrepresented communities, and master’s theses and hackathon prizes are instituted to attract a diverse array of potential students.
Project partners:
- Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain;
- Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
- Riga Technical University, Latvia
- Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
- Digital Innovation Zone, Romania
- FBK Science Institute, Italy
- Private company Asoindel, Spain
- Sunrise Tech Park, Lithuania
- Technology Centre of Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain
- Exacaster UAB, Lithuania
Project duration: October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2026.
The MERIT project has received partial funding from the European Union’s Digital Europe programme under grant agreement no. 101083531.
