ECON Madrid 2026: Advancing European Cooperation Ecosystems in the Age of AI
The ECON event, scheduled for 3 December 2026 in Madrid, represents a relevant platform for strengthening European cooperation frameworks in a context of rapid technological and societal transformation.
Hosted by Telefónica and locally organised by Mad for Europe, the initiative gathers a diverse range of stakeholders, including public institutions, NGOs, research bodies and private sector actors engaged in EU-funded programmes.
From an institutional perspective, ECON contributes to reinforcing structured cooperation mechanisms by facilitating dialogue, partnership-building and alignment with European policy priorities.
The impact of previous editions is significant: each event has involved approximately 80 organisations and contributed to the development and approval of over 150 European projects. These results highlight the potential of ECON as a catalyst for multi-stakeholder collaboration and programme implementation.
The 2026 edition will place particular emphasis on the implications of artificial intelligence within European cooperation. Discussions will address not only innovation opportunities but also governance, ethics and regulatory dimensions, including alignment with the AI Act.
In this sense, ECON supports the transition from a project-based approach to a more systemic and ecosystem-oriented model of cooperation, in line with evolving European policy directions.
More information:
https://econ-europeancooperationnetwork.eu/events/madrid-spain/
