S3 I E2 The EIT Edtech Conference (Second Edition, Brussels) 2025

Billions have been invested in EdTech across Europe… so why are so many innovations ending up in what insiders call “graveyards of innovation”?

🎙️ In this latest episode of Higher Learning Exchange, recorded at the EIT EdTech Conference 2025 in Brussels, we unpack what’s really going wrong—and what needs to change.

Here’s what I learnt about talking to six speakers 👇

Beth Havinga, Managing Director of the European Edtech Alliance [1:28]

💡 Innovation fails when it’s built without teachers and students in mind

Emma Linsenmayer, Analyst, PISA [4:20]

🧑‍🏫 Technologies are only as good as the design and purposeful use in class  

→ The rise of AI in assessment and digital learning (OECD / PISA insights)

Dana Redford, EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative [10:33]
→ The scale of Europe’s Deep Tech Talent Initiative (1.3M+ learners trained)

Tobias Himmerich, CEO of Eduvation [15:34]
🤝 Europe still struggles with fragmented markets—there’s no “one-size-fits-all” scaling strategy
📉 EdTech growth isn’t exponential—it’s slow, steady, and requires patience

Marta Lorusso, Digital Education Specialist, Girls Go STEM [22:46]

→ How initiatives like Girls Go STEM are reaching 70,000+ students across 35+ countries
🧑‍🏫 Teachers are the gateway to adoption—not just end users

Sharon Flynn, University of Galway [27:54]

🎓 Students need to be co-creators, not an afterthought
🔐 Trust between universities and EdTech providers is fragile—and often lost over time

The biggest takeaway?
👉 EdTech success isn’t about better technology—it’s about purposeful design, better collaboration, clearer ownership, and long-term thinking.

If you’re working in education, innovation, or policy—this episode is packed with honest insights from across the ecosystem.

For more information visit: www.hlexpodcast.com