The Istituto Superiore "E. Mattei" of Vasto carried the project ARCHIMEDE in line with the aims of the Erasmus Plus Programme and the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The project has been implemented according to what envisaged in the approved project proposal. The results were higher than initially planned: the beneficiaries were 30, five more than the 25 planned. The intense preparatory work (pedagogical, cultural and linguistic) before the mobility allowed the beneficiaries to increase their skills. This contributed to create the condition for increasing job opportunities both in Italy and abroad in the medium and long term. Such complex and well-structured work was aimed to raise the quality of competences of the selected students who wish to work in the sector of technological innovation. The gained competences, being part of the students? personal and professional background, have become marketable skills in the medium and long term. During project implementation there has been an high level of interest in the project activities by both the selected beneficiary and all the other students, resulting in a further motivation to attend school activities. This renewed interest in school initiatives indirectly contributes to reduce the school drop-out rate and increase the fight against poverty and exclusion not just locally within the Abruzzo Region but also in the wider national and European context. The ARCHIMEDE lasted 12 months and involved 30 participants selected among the students attending III and IV grade at Istituto di Istruzione Superiore "R. Mattei" of Vasto. Such VET learners are training to gain professional qualification in the fields of Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanics, Chemistry and Biology. They showed a very keen interest in technological innovation during the selection phase. The project was carried out in the Province of Chieti, an area where are located big multinationals such as Sevel, Honda, Pilkington, Denso, Valagro for which technological innovation is the core element of their productions at an international level also acting as a main driving force for local spin-off SMEs in the processes of globalization and transferring new technologies. In this context, thanks to the project, our school had the chance to offer to 30 students the opportunity to go on a one-month work placement in Irish companies where they succeeded in gaining/developing: 1) skills and professional resources needed to be employed in companies that operate in the field of technological innovation; 3) language skills; 4) greater transversal skills to meet professional standards required by companies ( independence, problem solving attitude, team spirit, flexibility) . Following the positive experience of the project Archimede, there has been a strengthening of synergies between formal and non formal education systems, vocational training, employability and self-employment opportunities. Furthermore a set of new initiatives have been put in place such as projects of work-linked training. In the long and medium term these initiatives will increase the chances of other young people in initial vocational training to gain professional and transversal skills to be used in the Labour market both nationally and internationally.