HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-05

ANIMA Investment Network can contribute to a consortium by bringing a strong economic development and innovation ecosystem perspective to the analysis of how basic skills influence productivity, innovation and competitiveness. Through its network of investment promotion agencies, economic development organisations and business support actors across Europe and the Mediterranean, ANIMA can facilitate access to companies, SMEs, clusters and innovation stakeholders. This will help complement quantitative research with field-based insights on skills needs, skills gaps and the role of basic skills—particularly digital, scientific and financial literacy—in supporting firm performance, innovation capacity and economic growth.

ANIMA can also support the translation of research results into actionable policy and economic development practices. By engaging regional development agencies, investment promotion organisations and innovation ecosystems, the network can help identify effective initiatives that strengthen basic skills and improve labour-market outcomes, while ensuring broad dissemination of the project’s findings. This contribution will help connect the project’s evidence base with policy design, regional development strategies and inclusive growth initiatives, supporting the uptake of recommendations aimed at enhancing productivity, competitiveness and economic resilience.