Ericsson Spain and the University of Málaga (UMA) have renewed their commitment to young talent. Together, they inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) vocations through the Hedy Lamarr Chair in Women and Technology. The Chair has consolidated in recent years its role as a space for collaboration between business and academia to bring technology closer to future generations of women engineers.
“At Ericsson, we firmly believe that innovation can only grow in diverse and inclusive environments. The renewal of the Hedy Lamarr Chair reinforces our commitment to STEM talent and to promoting a more equal digital future in Spain,” said Juan Olivera president of Ericsson Spain.
Since its creation in 2021, the Chair has had a significant impact on the educational landscape in Málaga, with more than 1,200 students participating in the activities organized by Ericsson, reaching a total of 369 girl students in 2025.
In addition, during the last academic year, more than 35 talks and visits to educational centers in Málaga were held, 110 high school students visited Ericsson’s offices, and 51 participated in the Hedy Lamarr Chair Challenge, a competition that promotes practical learning of emerging technologies.
The 2025/2026 Challenge, themed ‘How would you change the world around you with Generative Artificial Intelligence?’, will unfold in three phases: an ideas competition where secondary school students propose AI applications aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; a high-value technology course at the University of Malaga with workshops and talks from Ericsson and other partner companies, and the Hilda Ericsson Competition where students develop real projects with university mentors.
Key dates include idea submissions by January 13, 2026, the course in January and February, Hilda Ericsson registration closing on March 10, project submissions and presentations on April 30 and May 8, and the awards ceremony on May 22, 2026.
Positive impact on the presence of women in STEM degrees
Data from the University of Malaga reflects significant progress in the presence of women in technology-related engineering fields. In the Computer Science degree program, the percentage of women students has increased from 17.1% to 29.5%, and in Telecommunications, from 25% to 35.8% between the 2021/2022 and 2023/2024 academic years. These figures consolidate the Chair’s support as part of an ecosystem of initiatives that seek to inspire young girls to explore scientific and technological careers.
”Our Cognitive Network Solutions team in Málaga leads the company’s global efforts to maximize network performance through advanced ML and AI technologies. By connecting our teams and developments with the youngest, we are building a bridge for the talent that will lead to the creation of the networks of the future”, said Anna Wåhlén, Head of Cognitive Software Engineering, Ericsson.
