IMPROVE wins the Deusto–Banco Santander Research Award 2026
Ainhoa Izaguirre and her team at the award ceremony on 10 June, holding the Deusto–Banco Santander Research Award in “Research with Scientific and Social Impact”.
IMPROVE has been awarded the First Prize at the 21st edition of the University of Deusto – Banco Santander Research Awards. Recognized in the category of “Research with Scientific and Social Impact,” this prestigious award highlights the consortium's ongoing commitment to driving real-world change in the fight against gender-based violence.
Led by researcher Ainhoa Izaguirre and our partners at the University of Deusto, IMPROVE aims to make a qualitative leap in how institutions prevent, detect, and intervene in cases of gender-based violence.
The core of the project's award-winning innovation lies in the development of an AI-based virtual assistant, AinoAid™. This technology is actively being designed to offer a faster, more coordinated, and more humane response mechanism, with a specific focus on protecting and supporting vulnerable women. By translating complex technical research into a tangible, life-saving tool, IMPROVE perfectly embodies the requirement of delivering measurable social impact.
Winning this award is a tremendous milestone for the entire IMPROVE consortium, demonstrating the tangible value of our collaborative network. We extend our deepest congratulations to Ainhoa Izaguirre and the entire Deusto team for their exceptional local leadership and dedication.