Shared goals and challenges for the Faculty of Exact and Technical Sciences at the University of Rzeszów and the Institute of Software Technologies and Engineering at the University of Málaga. (ITIS)  

The visit of dr hab. Barbara Pękala, prof. UR, the Dean of the Faculty of Exact and Technical Sciences at the University of Rzeszów, to the Institute of Software Technologies and Engineering at the University of Málaga marks the beginning of a promising and strategic collaboration between the two institutions. The Institute of Software Technologies and Engineering is an interdisciplinary scientific and research center focused on the development and application of software technologies through research, innovation, training, and knowledge transfer. Due to the cross-cutting nature of software-related challenges, the Institute brings together specialists and experts from various technological fields who collaborate to develop cutting-edge solutions across a wide range of application domains. A key challenge addressed at the Institute of Software Technologies and Engineering at the University of Málaga is the development of reliable and secure software engineering methods that ensure system predictability and minimize errors. Given the ubiquity of information systems, software reliability has a direct impact on safety, health, and the functioning of the modern economy. The main research areas include, among others: data science and data engineering, artificial intelligence, and the application of IT technologies in real-world environments (https://itis.uma.es/en/research/). In response to the growing importance of artificial intelligence, the University of Málaga is currently developing the Co-Innovation Lab in Artificial Intelligence. Its goal is to address current challenges in the field through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together academia, industry, and the technology sector. The meeting became a platform for dialogue between scientists and representatives of both institutions, enabling the exchange of experiences, identification of common challenges and formulation of proposals for further research and development activities. Discussions included the development of an infrastructure for artificial intelligence research within the Faculty of Exact and Technical Sciences at the University of Rzeszów.

The meeting was attended by prof. Manuel Díaz Rodríguez, a leading researcher who actively bridges academic research with industrial implementation. Among the topics discussed were issues related to federated learning, which enables data analysis while preserving privacy. This event reinforces the commitment of both institutions to developing academic–industry partnerships and promoting responsible knowledge transfer in support of modern technological advancement