On 26–27 January 2026, the UNINOVIS International Conference – Innovating Together was held in Málaga, kindly hosted by the Universidad de Málaga. Over two focused and inspiring days, researchers, educators, students, innovators, and partners from across Europe came together to exchange ideas, share results, and explore how applied data science can support education, research, and societal impact.
With participants representing 17 nationalities and 14 European University Alliances, the conference reflected the growing importance of collaboration across institutions, disciplines, and borders.
A shared focus on collaboration and impact
The conference theme, Innovating Together, was clearly reflected in both the programme and the atmosphere. Sessions consistently highlighted the value of collaboration—between universities, with industry and SMEs, and with society at large—to address complex challenges in areas such as health, education, engineering, and the social sciences.
In the opening plenary, Prof. Antonio Cuesta-Vargas emphasised how data science can help transform scientific knowledge into strategic partnerships, particularly in biomedical and health-related consortia. His contribution set a thoughtful tone for the conference, focusing on long-term value creation rather than technology alone.
Programme highlights across domains
Across plenary sessions, parallel tracks, and workshops, the programme offered a rich overview of applied data science in practice. Contributions included health and wellbeing topics such as digital health workflows and patient involvement in research; education and learning sessions on learning platforms, microcredentials, and inclusive education; social sciences and law perspectives on sovereign data architectures and Europe's data strategies; and engineering and innovation cases focused on data infrastructures and pathways from research to application.
Dialogue with industry and society
A well-attended round table on university–private sector collaboration in eHealth, moderated by Javier López, brought together academic and industry perspectives. The discussion created space to align expectations, share experiences, and explore future collaboration opportunities.
DiPYUA workshop: learning from each other
An important moment within the programme was the DiPYUA workshop on digital platforms for European University Alliances. Representatives from several alliances shared practical experiences with developing and operating shared digital environments. Topics such as interoperability, data sovereignty, GDPR compliance, and user-centred design were central to the discussion.
Students as active contributors
Students played a visible role during the conference, particularly through the Student Council. Their reflections on international collaboration reinforced the importance of student engagement within European University Alliances like UNINOVIS.
Education & skills for impact
Strategic conversations focused on:
- Joint educational ambitions, including joint Master's programmes as a structural anchor
- Micro-credentials and lifelong learning as scalable tools to address skills gaps
- Balancing short-term pilots with long-term institutional goals connecting education, research and industry
Moving forward together
Looking back, the UNINOVIS International Conference 2026 strengthened connections within the alliance, opened new perspectives, and laid a solid foundation for future cooperation across education, research, and innovation. With the UNINOVIS General Assembly following shortly after in Málaga, the conference marked a natural transition from dialogue to action.