ECON 2026 - Shaping AI, Values and European Cooperation - ECON – European Cooperation Network for Ethical AI

Participation

Participation modalities and registration details will be announced soon.

Participants will be able to join the event as:

More information will be published in the coming weeks.

Registrations open: 1 April 2026

Why this event?

The global context is undergoing rapid transformation.

Technological innovation, geopolitical dynamics and new societal challenges are reshaping how organisations collaborate and how international partnerships are developed.

In this environment, ECON proposes a space for dialogue where values, responsibility and innovation are placed at the center of cooperation.

The Madrid meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect collectively on how artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and ethical considerations can influence the future of collaboration across sectors and countries.

Key Themes

The discussions during the event will explore several interconnected themes, including:

Ethical approaches to Artificial Intelligence

The role of values in international cooperation

Emerging models of value-driven leadership

Lifelong learning in the context of global transformation

Innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to collaboration

The impact of technological change on social and institutional systems

Strategic Overview

These six thematic pillars form an integrated framework combining:

ethics
innovation
cooperation
systemic transformation

They will be explored through:

open dialogue
thematic sessions
collaborative exchanges among participants

The overall objective is to foster the development of new partnerships and generate concrete European project ideas.

These themes will be explored through open dialogue, presentations and collaborative exchanges among participants.

ECON was created as a network committed to strengthening international cooperation through a value-driven perspective.

Rather than focusing only on projects or institutional partnerships, the network promotes a broader reflection on the ethical, cultural and societal dimensions of cooperation.

In this context, ECON encourages participants to engage in continuous learning, exchange of knowledge and constructive dialogue across disciplines.

The Madrid event represents an important step in developing this community of practice.

Ethics and Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming many aspects of society.

For this reason, ECON has launched an ongoing reflection on ethical approaches to AI, exploring how technological development can remain aligned with human values, social responsibility and democratic principles.

Articles and contributions on this topic are regularly published on the ECON platform.

The Madrid event will offer a dedicated space to further develop this discussion.

Rationale for the Choice of Venue

The ECON Annual Event 2026 will take place in Madrid at the TELEFONICA headquarters (Ronda de la Comunicación) rather than in a traditional academic venue. This choice reflects a deliberate strategic orientation of the ECoN initiative.

While universities remain essential partners within the network and are actively invited to participate, the objective of the ECoN Annual Event is to foster a cooperation environment that connects academia with organisations, practitioners, innovation ecosystems and actors directly involved in the implementation of European projects.

ECON 2026 – Shaping AI, Values and European Cooperation

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