Europe’s shortage of professionals capable of overseeing complex systems threatens its innovation capacity, according to the organizers of the Systems Workforce Summit. Participants from industry, academia and government are gathering in Delft on 27 and 28 October to develop recommendations for policymakers, educators and businesses. The meeting is expected to adopt a Delft Systems Declaration on its final day. Impression of the Systems Workforce Summit in 2024. Credit: Systems Workforce Summit A collaborative initiative by Nxtgen Hightech, Brainport Development and Delft University of Technology, the summit focuses on the broad competencies needed to bring together hardware, software, AI, manufacturing and organizational and regulatory requirements. The organizers argue that Europe is lagging behind the US and China in systems research, innovation and workforce development. The summit builds on a 2024 call for action endorsed by more than 150 representatives from science, industry, government and professional associations.