PRESS RELEASE

INAIR concludes with a multilingual learning ecosystem supporting responsible AI adoption in European retail

Caserta, June 2026 - The Horizon Europe project INAIR - Increasing the Uptake of AI in Retail has completed its 30-month implementation period, delivering an integrated set of research, training and practical resources designed to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the European retail sector in understanding and adopting artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively.

Implemented across Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Poland and Romania, the project addressed persistent barriers to AI adoption in retail, including uneven digital maturity, limited AI-related competences, organisational constraints and uncertainty surrounding ethical, regulatory and practical implementation.

INAIR combined transnational research, curriculum development, assessment, multilingual learning resources, digital delivery, pilot testing, stakeholder engagement and exploitation planning. The project’s main public results are now available to retailers, trainers, education providers, business-support organisations, researchers and policymakers.

From research evidence to practical learning

The project began with a transnational analysis of AI skills needs and adoption barriers in the European retail sector. The research combined desk research, statistical and labour-market analysis, use cases and stakeholder engagement across the five participating countries.

The findings highlighted the importance of AI literacy, digital mindset, data competences, organisational change capabilities, trustworthy-AI awareness and role-specific technical skills. These findings directly informed the development of the INAIR AI Core Curriculum, structured into 16 learning blocks and three proficiency levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced.

The curriculum was subsequently translated into 16 interactive and modular Open Educational Resources, available in English, German, Greek, Italian, Polish and Romanian. The resources include retail-specific examples, practical scenarios, knowledge checks, guided reflection, self-assessment activities and multimedia content.

The learning materials were integrated into a multilingual e-learning environment supporting personalised and self-paced learning. Through an initial assessment and learner profiling process, participants receive a pathway adapted to their role, organisational context and prior familiarity with AI.

Positive results from pilot implementation

The integrated programme was piloted in the consortium countries between March and April 2026.

A total of 242 users participated in the pilot, of whom 178 completed the initial assessment. Feedback was collected from 75 retail-sector participants and 61 external experts.

Among end-user respondents:

• 88% reported improved understanding of AI in retail;

• 85% reported increased confidence in considering or adopting AI solutions;

• 72% indicated that they intended to integrate AI-based tools or approaches into their work;

• 84% rated the overall quality of the programme positively.

The results indicate that the programme was perceived as relevant and useful by both retail participants and external experts. They also underline that training is most effective when it combines accessible content, practical examples, personalised learning pathways and guidance on responsible implementation.

Supporting trainers and education providers

To support replication and wider use, the project developed a Practical Guide for Facilitators for trainers, vocational education providers, higher-education institutions, chambers of commerce, business-support organisations and other intermediaries.

The guide includes practical instructions for using the INAIR environment, managing learning groups, adapting the programme to different delivery settings and supporting learners in online, blended, face-to-face and organisational training contexts.

The project also created a Trustworthy AI Map, presenting 25 web-based AI tools relevant to retail MSMEs together with considerations relating to transparency, privacy, data protection, human oversight and responsible use.

Policy recommendations for equitable and sustainable AI adoption

INAIR also published the policy paper Recommendations for Equitable and Sustainable AI Adoption in European Retail SMEs.

The paper synthesises the project’s research and implementation experience and identifies four main groups of barriers affecting AI uptake:

• skills and competence gaps;

• infrastructure and data limitations;

• organisational and financial constraints;

• trust, governance and regulatory uncertainty.

The policy paper recommends coordinated action around accessible and role-specific upskilling, management and organisational support, trustworthy-AI guidance and sustainable support mechanisms combining training, advisory services and infrastructure.

The project’s findings and lessons learned were also presented at the OECD foresight workshop AI and the Futures of Retail, held at the OECD headquarters in Paris on 12 June 2026. The workshop brought together representatives from international institutions, the European Commission, retail organisations, research bodies and business-support actors to examine how AI and other emerging trends may shape the retail sector up to 2040.

Continued access and post-project use

Although the funded implementation period has concluded, the INAIR results have been designed for continued access, reuse and adaptation.

The consortium has established a post-project exploitation and sustainability framework covering:

• educational reuse and integration into training programmes;

• continued access to the e-learning environment;

• development of advisory and training services;

• research and policy reuse;

• stakeholder and community engagement;

• monitoring of uptake and impact after project completion.

The principal public resources and the e-learning environment will remain available free of charge in their existing project-funded form, subject to the applicable access conditions and sustainability arrangements.

About INAIR

INAIR – Increasing the Uptake of AI in Retail was funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, Grant Agreement No. 101133847.

The project was coordinated by Lascò and implemented in partnership with:

• TEAM4Excellence;

• University of Warsaw;

• ITKAM – Italian Chamber of Commerce for Germany;

• BSD Design;

• University of Cyprus.

The project supported European retail MSMEs by developing research evidence, competence frameworks, learning resources and practical tools for responsible, inclusive and sustainable AI adoption.

Media contact

INAIR Project Consortium
inair@lasco.io

This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101133847. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.