"The aim of the HiTZ Chair is to strengthen the Basque Country's technological leadership in generative AI and language technologies".
We are part of the first National Chair in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Language Technology, a pioneering space for collaboration between researchers, industry and students.
The HiTZ Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Language Technology seeks to foster research, innovation, learning and responsible dissemination of these technologies. It was inaugurated at the Miramar Palace in San Sebastian, with the participation of institutions, companies and research centres. It is made up of four research groups from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) - HiTZ, ALDAPA, ISG and RSAIT -, the company Avature and collaborating entities, such as Orai NLP, Ikerlan, Euskaltel/MasOrange, Multiverse and TECNALIA.
It is a strategic project within the ENIA framework
The HiTZ Chair, the first in Spain to specialise in AI and language technology, is part of the ENIA Chairs programme, promoted by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service as part of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (ENIA).
The aim is to strengthen the Basque Country's technological leadership in generative AI and language technologies, positioning the Basque public university as a benchmark in this discipline.
Institutional voices and vision of the future
The opening ceremony brought together top-level representatives, such as the Rector of the UPV/EHU, Joxerramon Bengoetxea; the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and AI, María González Veracruz; the Basque Government`s Minister of Science, Universities and Innovation, Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias; and the Director of the Chair, Aitor Soroa. The Deputy General of Gipuzkoa, Eider Mendoza, welcomed the participants.
González Veracruz pointed out "the transformative impact of the ENIA Chairs for the future of our society" and highlighted the role of the Basque Country as a reference territory in the artificial intelligence revolution. She also reported on a recent agreement between the Spanish Government and the Basque Government to create a digital corpus in Basque, with an investment of five million euros aimed at generating linguistic resources applicable in sectors such as health.
Rector Bengoetxea highlighted the potential of the Chair to reinforce UPV/EHU's leadership in the field of language technology, recalling the development of the Latxa AI open model and the importance of continuing to innovate in minority languages, such as Basque.
A space for research and advanced training
In the round table "Artificial intelligence and language technologies in companies", moderated by Gorka Azkune (HiTZ), our Digital Director, Joseba Laka shared reflections on the role of AI in the industrial transformation. "The integration of natural language technologies, such as those promoted by the HiTZ Chair, will enable Basque companies to advance in competitiveness and adapt quickly to new market demands, especially in strategic sectors for local economic development".
He also stressed the importance of creating synergies between technology centres, universities and the business sector in order to strengthen a sustainable innovation ecosystem geared towards industrial excellence.
Challenges and opportunities for industry
Soroa also highlighted the challenges facing local industry in the face of rapidly evolving AI, warning of the risk of being left behind if it fails to build its own capabilities. "The HiTZ Chair can provide a major boost for the Basque business sector, offering quality training and favouring the transfer of knowledge towards innovation", he pointed out.
In this respect, TECNALIA's active participation reinforces our commitment to anticipate the challenges of AI and contribute to the development of a competitive ecosystem in the Basque Country, capable of generating added value in local industry.
