The TechConnect project focuses on if and why introducing new technologies lead to better results. The core argument is that technology only works when it aligns with how people actually work, it centres on Human-Tech Skill Complementarity: the idea that technology should support and enhance human capabilities, not replace them.

Instead of looking at individual skills in isolation, the project examines how three elements interact:

• Technology design
• Organisational systems
• Human capabilities

This systems-level approach is based on 12 case studies in healthcare across Ireland, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, supported by 960 hours of observation and interviews.

The “Affordance Gap”

A key finding is the affordance gap the difference between: intended affordances (how technology is designed to function) and the actual affordances (how it is used in real settings)

This gap emerges because real workplaces are shaped by:

• Legacy systems
• Organisational constraints
• Informal workarounds

Even when technology and staff are capable, this mismatch can reduce effectiveness and create friction.

Why Training Often Falls Short

Training is frequently misaligned with reality: training focuses on intended use, while workplaces operate on actual use. This leads to:

• Skills that are not transferable to real tasks
• Inefficiencies in daily workflows
• Increased pressure on workers

The issue is not a lack of skills, but a lack of context-specific training.

Implications for Policy

TechConnect contributes to several EU policy priorities by providing evidence on how digital transformation actually works:

• Union of Skills (2025): moves beyond generic digital skills, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and judgement in technology use
• Action Plan on Labour and Skills Shortages: explains why training systems fail when they ignore workplace conditions
• European Pillar of Social Rights: shows that effective technology implementation can improve job quality and security
• Digital Decade Policy Programme: focuses on adoption and effectiveness, not just deployment

Findings from healthcare contexts highlight consistent issues which influence both performance and working conditions:

• Training is often not tailored to specific roles
• Poor implementation disrupts workflows
• Technology can increase distance between professionals and patients
• Changes in tasks affect professional roles and expectations

Technology selection processes often overlook how systems will function in practice. TechConnect identifies the need for procurement criteria that consider user experience, evaluation methods that include the affordance gap, better alignment between organisational needs and technological solutions

Takeaway

The project Will provide four key resources:

1. Human-Tech Skill Complementarity Framework
2. Human-Tech Complementarity Index
3. Strengthening Model
4. Stakeholder Toolkit

These tools help organisations assess and improve how technology and skills interact. The main issue is not the quality of the technology or the skills of the workforce, but the gap between how systems are designed and how they are actually used. Closing this gap requires aligning technology, organisational structures, and human capabilities.