Munich, 16–17 March 2026 – JA Europe was represented at the World Economic Forum’s Industry Strategy Meeting in Munich by its CEO, Salvatore Nigro. The meeting brought together more than 300 leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society to discuss the implications of artificial intelligence for competitiveness, skills development, and innovation across economies.
The discussions reflected the European Union’s strategic priorities, in line with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s EU Inc. vision, to strengthen Europe’s human capital and ensure that skills systems are fit for a digital, green, and increasingly technology‑driven economy. Participants highlighted the importance of investing in skills, supporting education‑to‑employment pathways, and fostering entrepreneurial and innovation‑oriented mindsets to sustain productivity and long‑term growth.
A key moment of the meeting was the exchange between Salvatore Nigro and Dragoș Pîslaru, Minister of Investments and European Projects of Romania, a strong advocate for entrepreneurial education as a lever for economic transformation and social inclusion. In Romania, this policy approach is reflected in the work of Junior Achievement Romania, which delivers applied, project‑based learning programmes closely aligned with labour market needs. In 2025 alone, these initiatives generated more than 530,000 learning experiences, enabling students to develop practical entrepreneurial skills, take initiative, and build competencies relevant to an innovation‑driven economy.
JA Europe’s participation in the World Economic Forum Industry Strategy Meeting underscores its role in supporting Europe’s skills agenda by connecting education, entrepreneurship, and real‑world experience. By translating entrepreneurial education into practical learning outcomes, JA Europe contributes to the objectives of EU Inc. and helps strengthen the skills base, adaptability, and innovation capacity required to underpin Europe’s long‑term competitiveness and inclusive growth.
About JA Europe
JA Europe is the largest and leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. For over 100 years, JA Worldwide has delivered hands‑on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health. In the last school year, the JA Europe network in over 40 countries provided over 7.5 million learning experiences for youth in online, in person and blended formats, the organisation provided over 95,500 teaching experiences and 86,500 volunteering and mentoring experiences. For more information, visit JA Europe website or contact Irina Ilieva at JA Europe (irina@jaeurope.org).
