Attracting Girls to Technology Through Public-Private Partnership: The Hedy Lamarr Chair at The University of Malaga

Over the past decade, the city of Malaga (Spain) has doubled its technology sector, yet it still faces a shortage of skilled talent. Additionally, women in tech roles in Spain represent less than 20%. The low number of engineering female students at the University of Malaga (UMA) hampers efforts to increase women representation in the local tech industry. The Hedy Lamarr Chair for Women and Technology at UMA, a public-private partnership, encourages girls to pursue engineering degrees. This initiative designs activities to engage girls with technology, supported financially and through their involvement by participating companies. The project also provides role models, reveal potential, and offer teacher training. In 2023, more than 3,000 students aged 3 to 18 benefited from these efforts in Malaga. A key activity is the “Lamarr Chair Challenge and Hilda Ericsson Competition”, a hands-on activity which integrates into the secondary school curriculum. The third edition, carried out in 2024, focused on artificial intelligence (AI) for sustainability. Workshops enabled girls (around 15 years old) to develop AI projects addressing issues like water conservation and marine cleanup.