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