AEPD Award 2026: up to €3,000 for data protection training projects

Key data

Educational centers, NGOs, researchers and organizations working on privacy training have until October 15, 2026 to apply for the awards called by the Spanish Data Protection Authority (AEPD). The total allocation amounts to €9,000, distributed in two categories with a main award of €3,000 and an honorable mention of €1,500 each. The call was published in the BOE on July 20, 2026.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution approves the regulatory bases and calls for the Award for training, education and awareness in data protection for 2026. The award is structured in two independent categories, each with its own financial allocation:

A relevant aspect: public entities that win only receive honorific recognition, without financial allocation. The submission of applications is exclusively electronic and the deadline closes on October 15, 2026.

The evaluation criteria give special weight to projects that address the relationship between artificial intelligence and digital privacy, reflecting the AEPD's strategic priority in this area.

Economic and operational impact

For organizations already developing privacy training projects, this call represents an opportunity for direct financing without complex counterparts. The amounts are concrete and predictable:

• The main award of €3,000 can partially cover the costs of producing teaching materials, awareness campaigns or developing training tools.
• The honorable mention of €1,500 recognizes second-level projects with significant financial contribution for small entities such as NGOs or research groups.
• In case of a tie, the allocation is redistributed: each winner receives €2,250 instead of the €3,000 of the single award, ensuring that there are no winners without financial reward.
• Public entities should note that they will not receive financial allocation, only honorific recognition, which may affect the decision to apply.

The focus on artificial intelligence and digital privacy opens the door to innovative projects in an area of high training demand, which can facilitate obtaining complementary financing from other sources.

Who does it affect?

• Educational centers (schools, secondary schools, vocational training centers) that develop privacy education projects.
• Teachers with their own data protection awareness initiatives.
• Universities and researchers with projects aimed at the general public.
• NGOs and associations working on digital literacy and privacy.
• Private organizations with citizen training programs on data protection.
• Public entities (with the limitation that they only opt for honorific recognition, without financial allocation).

Practical example

An NGO that has developed a program of workshops on digital privacy and artificial intelligence for teenagers in secondary schools decides to apply for Category B (organizations aimed at the general public).

If the project wins the main award, the organization receives €3,000. If another project obtains the same score and there is a tie, both organizations receive €2,250 each. If it ranks second, it obtains the honorable mention of €1,500. Since the project incorporates the artificial intelligence and digital privacy axis, it has preferential consideration in the selection criteria.

The application must be submitted before October 15, 2026 electronically, with no possibility of in-person or paper submission.

What should organizations do now?

1. Identify the correct category: Determine whether your project fits in Category A (educational centers and teachers) or Category B (organizations and researchers aimed at the general public).
2. Verify if you are a public entity: If you are, you will only opt for honorific recognition, without financial allocation. Consider whether visibility justifies the effort of applying.
3. Orient the project towards AI and digital privacy: If your initiative can incorporate or highlight this thematic axis, do so: the evaluation criteria explicitly prioritize it.
4. Prepare documentation for electronic submission: There is no paper or in-person submission. Make sure you have access to the AEPD's electronic processing systems before the deadline.
5. Mark the deadline on your calendar: The application must be submitted before October 15, 2026. No extension is provided for in the bases.
6. Consult the complete regulatory bases: Review the formal requirements and evaluation criteria in the resolution published in the BOE to ensure that your project meets all requirements.

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-2026-15847