Madrid, April 2026 — The fourth edition of the STEM Women Congress, held on April 29 at CaixaForum Madrid, gathered more than 300 attendees, including industry leaders, institutional representatives, and STEM professionals, reaffirming its position as a key international platform to accelerate gender equality and systemic transformation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Organized by STEM Women Congress Global, this year’s edition introduced a new programmatic structure built around thematic blocks, enabling a more strategic and coherent exploration of today’s most pressing challenges —from data governance and artificial intelligence to health, talent development, and the societal implications of technological progress.

A program designed to connect data, decisions, and impact

The congress opened with an institutional session led by Eva Díaz, CEO and Founder of STEM Women Congress, alongside national education representatives, setting the tone for a day focused on the intersection between policy, talent, and innovation.

The first block, “Data & Future,” addressed how countries can leverage data, governance, and STEM talent to remain competitive, with contributions from international experts such as Natalia Olson-Urtecho. Discussions on inclusive artificial intelligence, led by professionals from GFT Technologies, emphasized the need to eliminate bias in emerging technologies.

The second block, “Health, Science & Decision-Making,” explored critical questions around the role of AI in healthcare and the human dimension of scientific advancement, with interventions from leading professionals in oncology, biomedical research, and industry.

Later, in “Talent & Opportunities,” speakers shared real-life experiences highlighting the importance of mentorship, access, and key turning points in STEM careers —reinforcing the idea that talent development is both individual and systemic.

Ethics Courtroom: a defining moment of the congress

One of the most anticipated sessions was the Ethics Courtroom – Navigating STEM Innovation Responsibly, an innovative debate format simulating a courtroom where two multidisciplinary teams —Pro Innovation and Pro Regulation— confronted the ethical boundaries of technological development.

After a high-level exchange of arguments and perspectives, the audience voted the Pro Regulation team as the winner, with 56% of the vote, sending a clear signal about the growing demand for responsible innovation frameworks that balance technological progress with societal impact.

From solutions to systemic thinking

In the final blocks, the congress shifted towards solutions and future outlooks, addressing topics such as the hidden role of mathematics in everyday technologies, data-driven decision-making in large corporations, and the importance of structured ecosystem collaboration.

A key highlight was the presentation of the STEM Atlas, a global platform designed to map, connect, and analyze STEM initiatives worldwide. This tool aims to solve one of the sector’s most critical challenges: the fragmentation of data and the lack of measurable, comparable impact.

By transforming dispersed initiatives into structured intelligence, STEM Atlas positions itself as a strategic resource for governments, companies, and ecosystem stakeholders, and as the foundation for the evolution of the STEM Women Annual Report (SWAR).

STEM Awards Madrid 2026: recognizing talent and systemic impact

The congress also hosted the STEM Awards Madrid 2026, reinforcing the importance of visibility and recognition across the entire STEM ecosystem.

This year’s winners were:

• STEM Woman Award: Carla Maté Goldar
• STEM Teacher Award: Mónica Juárez
• Ecosystem Recognition – Inspiration: Stem Talent Girl
• Ecosystem Recognition – Professional Career: WomANDigital

The introduction of the Ecosystem Recognition category —with its dual focus on Inspiration and Professional Career— reflects a more mature and strategic understanding of impact, recognizing not only individual excellence but also the initiatives that are structurally transforming the STEM landscape.

A collective effort: partners driving change

The success of the STEM Women Congress Madrid 2026 was made possible thanks to the support of leading organizations committed to innovation and diversity, including GFT, CaixaBank Tech, Danone, Kyndryl, Abertis, Volkswagen Group España Distribución, Mur&Partners, Dormakaba, Oracle, and Captrain, among others.

Their involvement highlights the critical role of the private sector in building a more inclusive, competitive, and future-ready STEM ecosystem.

A platform that goes beyond the event

With this fourth edition in Madrid, STEM Women Congress continues to evolve from a conference into a global platform for connection, intelligence, and action, where dialogue translates into partnerships, initiatives, and measurable impact.

The strong attendance and engagement confirm a key shift: the conversation is no longer about whether diversity in STEM matters, but about how to operationalize it at scale, with data, strategy, and shared responsibility.

About STEM Women Congress

STEM Women Congress is an international initiative that connects talent, companies, and institutions to accelerate gender equality in STEM through data-driven strategies, ecosystem-building, and global collaboration.