MegaStrat aimed to strengthen strategic foresight capacity in SMEs and their support ecosystems by developing a competence-based training programme aligned with labour market needs. The project equips professionals with methods and case studies to analyse megatrends, develop Long-Term Opportunity Forecasts (LTOFs) and translate them into actionable foresight strategies. A flexible, modular curriculum and online course were designed to support self-directed learning and formal training targeting VET, HEI and innovation hubs. The programme was made scalable and transferable across European countries and sectors. A key objective was to create cooperation between business and education by involving stakeholders directly in the co-design and piloting process through national workshops. Erasmus+ funding made it possible to promote digital readiness and resilience in the VET sector by offering multilingual, SCORM-compatible learning content and accompanying resources that could be easily integrated into existing infrastructures.
The MegaStrat project addressed pressing needs in the European high-tech SME landscape, especially in the mobility and production sectors. These companies face long innovation cycles and increasing uncertainty due to megatrends, but often lack the capacity to translate foresight into strategy. Training formats in VET, HEI and innovation hubs largely focus on short- to mid-term planning, leaving a gap in long-term or foresight strategic skills development. Professionals working in foresight and innovation roles require support to plan across 10-20 year horizons. Educational providers, especially in VET, need structured, validated materials for teaching future-oriented skills. In previous consultations, innovation hubs and VET institutions had explicitly called for practice-oriented, transferable resources. With support from the Erasmus+ call “Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training”, MegaStrat aimed to close this gap by developing an applied, scalable training solution that strengthens cooperation between education and enterprise and supports innovation in vocational education across Europe.