05 March 2026
Bilbao
As part of the OdiseIA4Good 2026 International Hackathon, held in Madrid on 27 February, the University of Deusto has signed the “OdiseIA Appeal”. This manifesto, signed by Álvaro de la Rica, Vice-Rector for Academic Policy and Digital Transformation, calls on governments and companies to develop AI projects that prioritise social good, such as tackling poverty, protecting the environment, reducing inequalities and improving health.
AI is attracting huge amounts of investment worldwide; however, the few AI initiatives aimed at advancing social objectives are funded by donations or grants. The OdiseIA initiative, promoted and endorsed by public and private universities under the leadership of CRUE, aims to reverse this situation by promoting accessible and sustainable funding models for AI initiatives that address urgent global needs, whilst placing ethical considerations at the heart of their development.
The signing of this document by more than 30 universities taking part in the event brought an end to an “international hackathon” which, at its closing ceremony, recognised six projects that demonstrate how artificial intelligence can become a practical tool for inclusion, accessibility and social prevention. These initiatives were recognised for their technical soundness, feasibility and potential for sustainable impact.
Around 300 attendees from the institutional, academic, business and social sectors took part in this closing ceremony, which was also attended by the Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, Óscar López; the Secretary of State for Youth and Children, Rubén Pérez; and the Deputy Minister for Digitalisation of the Community of Madrid, Manuel Pérez.
The 2026 edition of OdiseIA4Good has broken participation records, tripling the figures from the previous year with 112 teams from five continents. Of the 88 finalists, 39 competed in person on a day that focused on the technical feasibility and sustainable impact of the solutions presented.
