ApplAI 2025 consolidates the Basque Country as a benchmark in Applied Artificial Intelligence at international level
- Organised by BAIC - Basque Artificial Intelligence Centre, the conference offered a practical, ethical and collaborative vision of AI, addressing areas such as quantum computing, generative AI and natural language processing.
- The 2nd edition of ApplAI brought together 500 people from more than 230 organisations, consolidating an active community committed to technological innovation in the Basque Country.
ApplAI 2025 has made it clear that Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future possibility, but a transformative tool with real impact. In its second edition, held at the Euskalduna Bilbao and organised by the Basque Artificial Intelligence Centre (BAIC), the conference brought together 500 attendees from more than 230 organisations. Companies, public administrations, universities, technology centres and start-ups shared their experiences and real-life solutions that are already having an impact.
The event has highlighted the strength of the Basque AI ecosystem, built on collaboration between diverse actors and a shared commitment to driving purposeful technological development. BAIC promotes a coordination model that strengthens this dynamic community, prepared and determined to move towards a responsible and effective implementation of AI in the Basque Country. ApplAI has been the practical demonstration of this model in action.
During the conference, more than 25 leading AI speakers addressed the key components for robust and sustainable AI: from ethical and regulatory issues to data strategy and talent development, cultural change, sustainability and technology infrastructure. All of this is framed by a shared vision: to advance AI that generates real value for industry, public services and citizens.
Keys to real transformation
Practical learning and real-life experiences on the adoption and effective implementation of Artificial Intelligence were shared throughout the day Key aspects addressed included the effective integration of AI into existing processes, the strategic importance of specialised talent, the management and quality of data, as well as the ethical challenges associated with its use and the opportunities for improving business and social competitiveness in the Basque Country.
International speakers highlighted the value of collaboration between the academia, business and government sectors, showing how Artificial Intelligence is already having a tangible impact on products, services and processes.
As Jaione Ganzarain, Deputy Regional Minister of Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Basque Government, pointed out at the opening ceremony, "Artificial Intelligence is not just an emerging technology, it is the engine of an unprecedented industrial revolution. In the Basque Country we want to lead the deployment of AI in our industry with the aim of increasing its competitiveness. We start at a good vantage point: we already have more than 7,500 professionals working in different fields of Artificial Intelligence, as well as 1,300 research professionals in 90 working groups. 70% of the companies that have implemented AI are in the industrial and technological field, and leading Basque companies are already developing projects in this area".
"ApplAI has demonstrated that collaboration between all actors is essential to move towards applied, responsible and shared Artificial Intelligence. The Basque Country has a cohesive and committed ecosystem that is well positioned internationally and capable of generating collective responses to the challenges posed by this technology", said Laura Marrón, Managing Director of BAIC.
As a new feature, ApplAI 2025 has also brought the event closer to the online public with ApplAI OnAIr, a videopodcast hosted by Iñaki Leturia and Bego Zubia (Elhuyar), which has broadcast live interviews, debates and summaries of the highlights of the day.
Euskadi, where AI is already functioning
ApplAI 2025 has reaffirmed that AI is already part of the present in the Basque Country. Beyond imagining the future, the conference brought together those who are building it today, sharing experiences, challenges and results in order to move forward with more impact.
"More than imagining what is to come, ApplAI has helped us to understand what is already happening and how to multiply its impact, " says Arrate Jauregibeitia, Strategy Director at BAIC.
The programme was completed with round tables and networking spaces that encouraged the exchange of ideas and the creation of new alliances.
ApplAI 2025 has received institutional support from the Basque Government, SPRI and the three provincial councils: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Araba. In addition, it has been made possible thanks to the support of the 14 sponsoring organisations in the Urrea modality (Bilbomática, CYC, Entelgy, Fundación Euskaltel, Eustat, Ikerlan, Laboral Kutxa, LKS Next, NWorld, Orai, Petronor, Seidor, Versia and Vicomtech); and the 4 sponsoring organisations in the Zilarra modality: (Datua (Teknei Group), Lantek, Satlantis and Tekniker).
ApplAI has thus established itself as an essential event for those who apply AI in real-life environment and with ethical standards, and as a showcase for the potential of the Basque technological innovation ecosystem.
