Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 8, 2026, from the Spanish Data Protection Authority, approving the regulatory bases and announcing the Research Award in Pure and Applied Sciences in Personal Data Protection "Ángela Ruiz Robles", for the year 2026 |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | July 20, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 21, 2026 |
| Category | Grants and Subsidies |
| First prize | €3,000 |
| Runner-up | €1,500 |
| Ex aequo (each) | €2,250 |
| Maximum total budget | €4,500 |
| Work period | Completed in the three years prior to October 15, 2026 |
| Maximum length | 100 pages + executive summary in Spanish and English |
| Official source | BOE-A-2026-15844 |
Researchers in technology, engineering, computer science, and related disciplines have until October 15, 2026 to submit work to the 'Ángela Ruiz Robles' Award, the annual call from the Spanish Data Protection Authority (AEPD). The call resolution was published in the BOE on July 20, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-15844) and entered into force the following day.
Unlike other AEPD awards, this one explicitly excludes legal or doctrinal work: only research in pure and applied sciences competes. The focus is on technologies with direct impact on privacy.
What does this call establish?
The resolution approves the regulatory bases and announces the 'Ángela Ruiz Robles' Award 2026 for research in pure and applied sciences related to personal data protection. The key aspects of the call are:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type of work admitted | Pure and applied sciences related to personal data protection. Legal or doctrinal work is excluded. |
| Especially valued topics | Disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, biometrics, neurotechnology, and high-risk treatments or those affecting vulnerable groups |
| Maximum age of work | Completed in the three years prior to October 15, 2026 |
| Maximum length | 100 pages plus executive summary in Spanish and English |
| Who cannot participate | AEPD employees, regional data protection authority employees, or foreign data protection authority employees |
| Ex aequo modality | If the jury declares a tie, each winner receives €2,250 (instead of €3,000 and €1,500) |
Economic and operational impact
The maximum total budget for the call is €4,500, distributed between the first prize (€3,000) and the runner-up (€1,500). In case of ex aequo, both winners would receive €2,250 each, maintaining the same budget ceiling.
For candidates, the main operational cost is the time spent preparing the application: the work must be accompanied by an executive summary in Spanish and English, which implies an additional investment in translation or bilingual technical writing. The maximum length of 100 pages limits the submission of very extensive research, which must be synthesized.
From an institutional perspective, research centers, universities, and R&D technology groups can use this award as leverage for visibility with the AEPD and as external recognition of their work lines in applied privacy.
Who does it affect?
This call is relevant for:
- Researchers in computer science, engineering, mathematics, and related technical disciplines working on privacy or data protection
- University research groups with lines in artificial intelligence, biometrics, or neurotechnology
- Researchers from technology centers and private R&D laboratories
- Independent professionals with technical work published or completed in the last three years
- Doctoral students and postdocs whose theses or work address high-risk data processing technologies
Cannot participate employees of the AEPD, regional data protection authorities (such as the Catalan Data Protection Authority or the Basque Data Protection Agency), or foreign data protection authorities.
Practical example
A researcher from a university research group who completed in 2024 work on facial recognition systems and their risks for vulnerable groups can apply for the award. Their work meets two of the preferential evaluation criteria: biometrics and impact on vulnerable groups.
They must prepare the application with the main work (maximum 100 pages) and add an executive summary in Spanish and English. If the jury selects it as first-place, they will receive €3,000. If the jury declares an ex aequo with another work, the award would be €2,250. If it ranks as runner-up, they would receive €1,500.
An independent researcher working on neurotechnology applied to brain privacy—one of the areas expressly mentioned in the bases—could also apply, as long as the work is not legal or doctrinal in nature and has been completed within the three-year period prior to October 15, 2026.
What should candidates do now?
- Verify eligibility: Confirm that you are not an employee of the AEPD, a regional data protection authority, or an equivalent foreign authority.
- Review work age: The work must have been completed in the three years prior to October 15, 2026, that is, not before October 15, 2023.
- Check that the work is technical in nature: Legal or doctrinal work is explicitly excluded. Only research in pure and applied sciences competes.
- Prepare the bilingual executive summary: It is mandatory to submit an executive summary in both Spanish and English, in addition to the main work.
- Adjust the length: The work cannot exceed 100 pages. If the research is longer, it must be synthesized respecting that limit.
- Consult the complete regulatory bases: Access the full text in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-15844) to verify the submission procedure, exact deadlines, and detailed evaluation criteria.
Frequently asked questions
How much money can you win with the 'Ángela Ruiz Robles' Award 2026?
The first prize is endowed with €3,000 and the runner-up with €1,500. If the jury declares a tie (ex aequo), each winner would receive €2,250. The maximum total budget for the call is €4,500.
What type of work can be submitted to the AEPD 2026 award?
Only research in pure and applied sciences related to personal data protection is admitted. Legal or doctrinal work is explicitly excluded. Work on disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, biometrics, neurotechnology, and high-risk treatments or those affecting vulnerable groups is especially valued.
What is the deadline for submitting work to the Ángela Ruiz Robles Award 2026?
Work must have been completed in the three years prior to October 15, 2026, that is, from October 15, 2023 onwards. The complete regulatory bases with the exact submission deadline are available in the BOE-A-2026-15844.
Can employees of data protection organizations participate in the AEPD 2026 award?
No. Employees of the AEPD, regional data protection authorities (such as the Catalan Data Protection Authority or the Basque Data Protection Agency), and foreign data protection authorities are explicitly excluded.
How many pages can the work submitted to the Ángela Ruiz Robles Award have?
The work cannot exceed 100 pages. Additionally, it must be accompanied by an executive summary written in both Spanish and English.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15844