On 26–27 May 2026, ECEPAA took part in the 4th in-person meeting of the DIAMOND Empower consortium, hosted at the Porto Innovation Hub and organised by our Portuguese partner Proportional Message Associação.

The meeting marked a pivotal moment for the project: the transition from research and design towards real-world testing, implementation, and wider communication of results. For ECEPAA, actively engaged in dissemination activities (WP7) and in the analysis of policy implications for active labour market policies (WP4), this was a key opportunity to contribute to shaping the project’s next phase.

From Research to Tools: the ᴱGROW Index

At the heart of the discussions was the progress of the ᴱGROW Index — DIAMOND’s framework for measuring individuals’ employability capabilities. Built on research findings from university partners at Vienna and Aarhus, the Index is now moving from conceptual development towards concrete integration into the project’s digital tools, enabling the mapping of competencies, needs, and growth potential of beneficiaries.

Technology in the Service of Employability

CETIC presented the DIAMOND platform prototype and AI-powered recommender model, designed to provide personalised re- and upskilling pathways for job seekers. The platform represents the technological core of the project: a human-centred tool that translates scientific findings into actionable guidance for those navigating labour market transitions.

Living Labs: Real-World Validation on the Horizon

Partners including Universidad de Burgos and EMiT Feltrinelli led collaborative workshops to prepare for the upcoming Living Labs — the real-world testing environments where DIAMOND will be validated with actual beneficiaries. Work focused on learning pathways, community-based validation, and user-centred design, a phase that ECEPAA follows with particular attention given its implications for labour market policy design.

Moving Forward: the Broader Picture

The meeting also addressed cross-cutting themes including data acquisition, microcredential development, future course design, and the communication of project results through accessible ᴱGROW profiles. DIAMOND continues to demonstrate how scientific rigour, digital innovation, and inclusive design can work together to produce employability solutions that are both evidence-based and practically effective.

ECEPAA will continue to contribute to this phase through its expertise in policy analysis and institutional dissemination.