Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 8, 2026, from the Spanish Data Protection Authority, approving the regulatory bases and announcing the Legal Research Award in Personal Data Protection "Emilio Aced", for the year 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 20, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 21, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Individual researchers, research groups, universities and institutions from Spain and Ibero-America |
| Category | Data Protection |
| Year | 2026 |
| First prize | €3,000 |
| Honorable mention | €1,500 |
| Maximum budget | €4,500 |
| Maximum work length | 100 pages |
| Reference date for eligibility | October 15, 2026 |
The Spanish Data Protection Authority announces the Emilio Aced Award 2026 to recognize and disseminate excellent legal research in the field of privacy and personal data protection. The call, published in the BOE on July 20, 2026 through the Resolution of July 8, 2026, enters into force on July 21, 2026 and establishes a maximum allocation of €4,500.
The award is not an obligation for companies nor does it generate compliance costs: it is a concrete opportunity for researchers and academic centers working in the legal field of privacy, with special focus on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, biometrics and neurotechnologies.
What does this call establish?
The resolution approves the regulatory bases of the Emilio Aced Award 2026 and sets the conditions for participation, evaluation criteria and economic allocation. The essential points are:
- Purpose: to recognize legal research works on privacy and personal data protection.
- Admitted participants: individual researchers, research groups, universities and institutions from Spain and Ibero-America.
- Work requirements: must be original and unpublished, with a maximum length of 100 pages, and must have been prepared in the three years prior to October 15, 2026.
- Priority topics: legal challenges of artificial intelligence, biometrics and neurotechnologies in the field of data protection.
- Exclusions: members of the jury and personnel of data protection authorities are excluded.
| Category | Allocation |
|---|---|
| First prize | €3,000 |
| Honorable mention | €1,500 |
| Maximum budget | €4,500 |
Economic allocation and conditions
The total budget for the call amounts to €4,500, distributed between the first prize (€3,000) and the honorable mention (€1,500). No additional categories or prizes are contemplated within this call.
For research centers and universities, this type of recognition also has relevant reputational value: the Emilio Aced Award is granted by the AEPD, the supervisory authority for data protection in Spain, which provides institutional visibility to the awarded work.
The cost of participation for candidates is zero in direct economic terms: the call does not require fees or payments. The effort is the preparation or adaptation of the research work in accordance with the requirements established in the bases.
Who does it affect?
This call is relevant for the following profiles:
- Individual legal researchers specialized in privacy and data protection.
- University research groups with lines of work in digital law, AI or biometrics.
- Universities and academic institutions from Spain and Ibero-America.
- Legal professionals and lawyers who have developed original research works in the last three years on these matters.
- Think tanks and foundations with research activity in data protection.
The following are expressly excluded:
- Members of the award jury.
- Personnel of data protection authorities.
Practical example
A research group from a Spanish university that published in 2024 a legal study on the use of facial recognition systems in public spaces and their compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation could submit that work to the Emilio Aced Award 2026, provided it meets the following conditions:
- The work is original and unpublished in the sense required by the bases.
- Its length does not exceed 100 pages.
- It was prepared between October 2023 and October 2026 (three years prior to October 15, 2026).
- None of the authors are part of the jury or personnel of a data protection authority.
If the work wins the first prize, the research group would receive €3,000. If it obtains the honorable mention, the allocation would be €1,500. Since biometrics is one of the topics expressly valued in the bases, this type of research would have a favorable position in the evaluation.
What should interested parties do now?
- Review the complete regulatory bases published in the BOE on July 20, 2026 to learn all formal submission requirements.
- Verify work eligibility: check that it is original and unpublished, that it does not exceed 100 pages and that it was prepared in the three years prior to October 15, 2026.
- Confirm that there is no cause for exclusion: none of the authors should be a jury member or personnel of a data protection authority.
- Identify if the work addresses priority topics: the legal challenges of AI, biometrics and neurotechnologies are the areas expressly highlighted in the bases, which may positively influence the evaluation.
- Prepare the documentation and submit the application within the deadline established in the bases, following the procedure indicated by the AEPD.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does the Emilio Aced Award 2026 grant?
The first prize is endowed with €3,000 and the honorable mention with €1,500. The maximum total budget for the call is €4,500.
Who can apply for the Emilio Aced Award 2026?
Individual researchers, research groups, universities and institutions from Spain and Ibero-America can participate. Members of the jury and personnel of data protection authorities are excluded.
What is the deadline for submitting works to the Emilio Aced Award 2026?
Works must have been prepared in the three years prior to October 15, 2026, which is the reference date indicated in the regulatory bases.
What requirements must the work meet to apply for the Emilio Aced Award?
The work must be original and unpublished, with a maximum length of 100 pages, and must have been prepared in the three years prior to October 15, 2026. It must deal with legal research in the field of personal data protection.
What topics are especially valued in the Emilio Aced Award 2026?
The bases especially highlight works on legal challenges of artificial intelligence, biometrics and neurotechnologies in the field of personal data protection.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is purely informational in nature 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-2026-15850