• The CITIC (UDC) and ASPACE Coruña programme brings together 450 students, teachers, researchers and people with disabilities in Santiago at the end of this school year to showcase inclusion through innovation.
• Among the solutions presented by 15 Galician schools are 3D adaptations, electronic systems, personalised supports and visual applications designed to improve the autonomy and quality of life of people with cerebral palsy.

Santiago de Compostela, 11 June 2025.- The Fontán Building, in the Cidade da Cultura of Santiago de Compostela, hosted this morning the closing ceremony of the 5th edition of the Talentos Inclusivos programme, an initiative promoted by CITIC (Centre for Research in Information and Communication Technologies) of the University of A Coruña, a member of the CIGUS Network, in collaboration with ASPACE Coruña. Its main objective is to foster the inclusion of people with disabilities through technological and creative challenges developed by Galician educational centres.

In this edition, the 15 participating centres developed a total of 59 technological solutions aimed at improving the daily life of people with cerebral palsy. These challenges were proposed by users and professionals from organisations such as ASPACE Coruña, Amencer‑ASPACE, APAMP and the Cruz Roja A Coruña Vocational Training Centre, and addressed by secondary‑, baccalaureate‑ and vocational‑education students in collaboration with CITIC research staff.

The solutions presented included proposals such as portable adapted ramps, educational electronic boards, mechanisms to help rest with hands extended, weighted blankets with lights, pool baskets, wireless push‑button doorbells, 3D‑printed adaptations for everyday objects and inclusive educational video games.

A day with more than 450 attendees to highlight inclusion from the classroom

The event brought together more than 450 people—including students, teachers, people with disabilities, researchers and partner institutions—consolidating Talentos Inclusivos as a benchmark in promoting inclusive science and social awareness from the classroom.

From the early hours, the participating centres from different parts of Galicia showcased their projects to the public. The day continued with an open visit to the exhibition, an interactive “gymkhana” to encourage interaction among attendees and a draw for two prizes.

At 12:00 pm, the authorities arrived, took a family photo and toured the stands accompanied by Javier Pereira, deputy director of CITIC. During the tour, participation diplomas were presented in recognition of each centre’s commitment and effort.

In his speech, CITIC director Manuel G. Penedo highlighted the programme’s impact: “Talentos Inclusivos shows that technology can also be a tool for social justice. Having students, people with disabilities and researchers work together on real challenges with tangible results is the best way to foster a more inclusive and aware society. This programme combines scientific vocation, social commitment and quality education”.

Five years promoting inclusion through science and technology

With five editions already held, Talentos Inclusivos has promoted the development of more than 70 real technological solutions, sparking STEM vocations among Galician youth and strengthening collaboration between the education system, the scientific community and the social fabric.

In this year’s edition, the project involved more than 500 people—students and people with disabilities—in a process of technological co‑creation with real impact on the daily lives of the beneficiaries.

About Talentos Inclusivos

Talentos Inclusivos is a project developed by CITIC (Centre for Research in Information and Communication Technologies) of the UDC (University of A Coruña) and ASPACE Coruña, with support from FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; the UDC Social Council; A Coruña City Council; and the Xunta de Galicia through the Departments of Education, Science, Universities and VET and of Social Policy and Equality.

Its goal is to spark STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) vocations among young people and to raise awareness of disability through collaborative teams working to solve technological challenges posed by people with cerebral palsy.

Through this project, secondary‑ and baccalaureate‑level students from various schools in Galicia must seek technological solutions to a series of challenges proposed by users of ASPACE Coruña, Amencer‑ASPACE, APAMP and Cruz Roja A Coruña.

More information: https://talentosinclusivos.citic.udc.es/

About CITIC

CITIC is a research centre that drives progress and excellence in applied ICT R&D&I. Created in 2008 by the University of A Coruña, its scientific activity is structured around four main research areas: Artificial Intelligence; Data Science and Engineering; High‑Performance Computing; and Intelligent Services and Networks, with a transversal area common to all of them: Cybersecurity.

CITIC is accredited as a Centre of Excellence and member of the CIGUS Network for the period 2024‑2027, underscoring the quality and impact of its research. The accreditation, structuring and improvement of CITIC is co‑funded by the Xunta de Galicia and 60 % by the European Union under the FEDER Galicia 2021‑2027 Operational Programme, with the thematic objective of promoting “a smarter Europe: innovative economic transformation” (ED431G 2023/01).