This association was set up to foster business competitiveness and improve Basque society.
BAIC was set up to develop and design the Basque Artificial Intelligence ecosystem in the Basque Country, and to foster start-ups in the sector; involving local driving entities. It also encourages the promotion of talent in artificial intelligence in collaboration with Basque Training Centres. It promotes, develops and attracts talent and fosters synergies between the diverse scientific-technological capacities in the Basque Country, in addition to disseminating the Basque Country’s offer in Artificial Intelligence internationally.
The launch of BAIC has come at a moment when AI has become an essential instrument to rely on in order to address the challenges that Basque society faces. The Basque Government heads the development and implementation of knowledge in AI: the Government Programme has contemplated AI among its priorities, in the 14th commitment “Industry 4.0 rooted in the Basque Country and development of Artificial Intelligence”. The European Commission is committed to the digital transformation: both the big technological powers and smaller advanced countries have embarked on the path towards development and the use of AI.
Collaborating Entities
17 entities have set up the BAIC (Basque Artificial Intelligence Center) Association. The entities backing the BAIC are CAF, Deusto Seidor, Euskaltel, Gestamp, Hupi Ibérica, Iberdrola, Inzu Group, ITP Aero, Mondragon Corporación, Onkologikoa, Petronor, Sener and Versia; and the scientific-technological agents and training centres include TECNALIA with its AI team, along with Vicomtech and the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM).
Public collaboration is provided by the SPRI Group, on behalf of the Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of the Basque Government.
The Basque Country has numerous assets that enable it to make a firm commitment to AI as a lever for the region’s digital and competitive transformation. Within the AI ecosystem, the Technology Centres are a source of knowledge, innovation and technological development where university centres and industrial companies converge.
The educational pillar made up of the UPV/EHU, University of Deusto, Mondragon University and Navarra University, as well as the Vocational Training Centres, in collaboration with the Technology Centres, are responsible for training professional profiles that help to maintain the Basque production sector and innovate within Basque companies.
