Junta and Google join forces to provide training for individuals, schools, businesses and the public sector in Andalucía

This Thursday, the regional government of Andalucía and Google formalised an alliance at the tech giant’s centre of excellence in Malaga to “contribute to accelerating the region’s digital transformation, making it accessible to everyone”. The regional minister of industry and energy, Jorge Paradela summarized the goal of the collaborative agreement between the multinational company and the Junta. According to Miguel Escassi, Google’s director for institutional relations, the agreement will be implemented in the next few months by concrete actions in three areas: “training professionals and individuals in digital skills; training teachers, researchers, and students at higher education institutions in advanced AI tools; and supporting companies as they transform into the digital ecosystem using cloud technologies”.

“First, we will make available to all the people of Andalucía a comprehensive training programme focused on acquiring and expanding AI knowledge to help improve employability by reducing the digital divide and the digital skills gap,” said Escassi. The second set of programmes is for education: a comprehensive training programme for teachers and researchers in Google AI tools, such as Gemini, Notebook LM and Notebook LM to modernise research and teaching, and then programmes and certifications for students in higher education that will “equip them with fundamental skills to use AI responsibly, improving their future employability, and strengthening Andalusian talents”, according to Google’s spokesperson. Third, there is collaboration between the public and private sectors. “We will collaborate to train Andalucía’s public sector in cloud technologies, cooperate to promote initiatives that help in the field of cybersecurity and help combat cyber threats and we will continue to support the digital agency of Andalucía (ADA) in the creation of a digital ecosystem of resilient companies,” concluded Escassi.

Domains of collaboration

This alliance establishes four major areas of collaboration: AI and cloud computing, digital training and talent acquisition and development, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship and, lastly, R&D. The regional minister said, “We are committed towards a more transparent and efficient administration, a better prepared population through digital training, and a cybersecure society.

Paradela, following the official signing, championed the public-private partnership as a way forward for inclusive digitalisation. Citing the achievements of Malaga, which is “becoming the cybersecurity capital in southern Europe” due to the coordinated efforts by companies and institutions, Paradela highlighted the importance of partnerships to promote inclusive digitalisation. “Today, we’re visiting GSEC Malaga. A centre that has similar counterparts in Dublin only and Munich. From here, with the talent available in Andalucía, Google’s cybersecurity is being projected for Europe and the world. Andalusian cyber security centre, located in Malaga port, will soon become Andalusian cybersecurity agency,” he stated.