TechConnect researchers’ training sets the stage for groundbreaking case studies across Europe
28th February, 2025 – Västerås, Sweden
International researchers from Spain, Ireland, Sweden, and the Netherlands gathered last week in an engaging and collaborative training session to kick off the TechConnect Project’s highly anticipated case studies research. The event took place from 26th to 28th February 2025, marked a significant milestone in the project’s journey to investigate how advanced digital technologies intersect with human skills in real-world settings.
Laying the foundation for groundbreaking research
Organised by Mälardalen University (MDU), the training focused on laying the foundation for 12 in-depth case studies across four hospitals (Västerås Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal), providing a comprehensive approach to Human-Tech Skill Complementarity. Researchers shared their expertise, aligning on key methodologies, including ethnographic observations, interviews, and technology-in-use analysis, aimed at uncovering the actual impact of technology on work processes and skill enhancement.
Professor Anette Hallin, emphasised the importance of taking a transdisciplinary approach to research, which integrates insights from technology development, human resource management, and social sciences.
“What we’re studying is not just the technology itself, but how it is used by real people, in real situations. Our goal is to go beyond the traditional view of technology adoption and explore how these new tools can truly complement and enhance human skills.”
A collaborative approach to Human-Tech integration
The case studies will explore how professionals across healthcare settings in these four countries engage with and utilise emerging technologies, such as AI, robotics, and healthcare IT systems. With these studies, TechConnect aims to fill a critical gap in research: while much of the focus has been on technology displacing jobs or enhancing productivity, little has been done to explore how technologies can actively complement human skills to improve both efficiency and job satisfaction.
“We gathered all the researchers who are working on the Tech Connect project and get a three-day intensive training on the key methodologies to conduct in the observational case studies, which is a key task to understand how professionals in the healthcare contact to interact with the technology.”
TechConnect, a project under the Horizon Europe framework and funded by the European Commission, is set to have a lasting impact on workplace transformation. By investigating the relationship between technology and human skills, the project will provide actionable insights for policymakers, business leaders, and educators, helping to shape the workforce of tomorrow.
The findings from the case studies will inform the development of a Human-Tech Skill Complementarity Index, a Stakeholder Toolkit, and practical recommendations that will aid policymakers, industry leaders, and educational institutions in creating policies, training programmes, and technologies that empower workers and enhance productivity.
“The most interesting thing is that you get to understand people’s practices and how they work with technologies, how they work without technologies and what happens to practices when we introduce new technologies.”
With the training session complete, the TechConnect team is now poised to begin the next phase of the project, with fieldwork scheduled to start in March 2025. This collaboration represents a crucial step forward in building a future-ready workforce that is equipped for the digital age.
Why this research matters
The rise of automation, AI, and digital transformation presents both opportunities and challenges for the workforce. While new technologies can enhance efficiency and improve healthcare outcomes, studies have shown that poor integration and lack of human-tech complementarity can lead to inefficiencies and workforce resistance. TechConnect aims to bridge this gap by developing practical, data-driven solutions that enhance collaboration between technology and human skills.
The healthcare sector is a prime testing ground for this research due to its rapid adoption of AI-driven diagnostics, robotic assistance, and digital patient management systems. By studying hospitals in Ireland, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, TechConnect seeks to generate insights that can be scaled across other industries facing digital transformation.
What’s Next?
Following this training, researchers will begin on-site case studies, gathering real-world data on how healthcare professionals interact with new technologies. These insights will inform policy recommendations, industry guidelines, and training programmes, helping organisations optimise the integration of digital technologies into their workflows.
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About TechConnect
The TechConnect project aims to deepen the understanding of how advanced digital technologies impact human skills by focusing on Human-Tech Skill Complementarity. Through desk research, industry surveys, and case studies in healthcare, TechConnect explores how human skills and technology interact in real-world contexts. The project develops a systemic framework to address the gap between intended and actual technology use, offering practical guidelines for technology procurement, development, and training. By providing tools to enhance human-tech integration, TechConnect aims to boost productivity and employment across industries, driving greater alignment between technology and human skills.
Learn more here: https://horizontechconnect.eu/