As we step further into the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a transformative force across industries — and cybersecurity is no exception. The evolving interplay between AI and cybersecurity is fundamentally changing not just how we defend digital infrastructures, but also how malicious actors devise their attacks.

On June 18, 2025, the MERIT project hosted the hybrid International Industry Engagement Workshop on Artificial Intelligence, drawing experts, educators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers together from across the globe. The event, organized by the MERIT consortium, aimed to bridge academic innovation and industry needs by refining AI-focused master’s programmes through active engagement with the private sector.

The Master’s Program in Industrial Engineering and Management (MARM) combines technical expertise with strategic thinking and international collaboration. Through the experiences of two students, we gain a deeper understanding of what the program truly offers and how it prepares graduates for successful careers in industrial engineering, management and beyond.

Building on our exploration of how digitalisation is transforming business landscape, this article continues the series of articles with Laima Balčiūnė – a key figure in Lithuania’s digital innovation ecosystem – returning to share her insights on the digital tools and technologies that empower startups to scale faster and compete on a global stage.

Imagine this… You walk into your favorite coffee shop. Before you say a word, the barista smiles and says, “The usual flat white?”. That tiny moment makes your day. You feel seen, valued. That’s why you keep coming back—even when prices go up. They know you.

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, innovation is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity. Digitalisation is reshaping how businesses operate, especially within the vibrant startup ecosystem. In this special article series, we explore the key forces driving this transformation, the challenges faced, and the opportunities ahead for startups seeking to compete globally.

During Girls in ICT Day at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) in Manresa, UPC Manresa, and with the support of the MERIT project, we had the opportunity to hear from Noèlia Català, an expert in artificial intelligence at IThinkUPC. She explained what lies behind tools like ChatGPT and how they are now capable of performing tasks traditionally done by humans—such as writing, summarising, providing information on almost any topic, or chatting like a real person. 

Artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity solutions have become fundamental elements of our daily lives. For many, digital tools like ChatGPT and smart devices are commonplace, yet the true potential of these technologies is often underutilized in businesses. While companies are aware of the power that AI and similar innovations offer, many face challenges in properly implementing these technologies into their operations.

A few days ago, UPC Manresa hosted the Girls in ICT Day, supported by the MERIT project. Among other activities, the participating girls took part in a hands-on workshop at Techlab Manresa to learn what the Internet of Things (IoT) is all about. The workshop was led by Xènia Mata and Mercè Tormo, both students of the Bachelor’s Degree in ICT Systems Engineering offered at UPC Manresa. They showed the attendees that controlling a system remotely can actually be done quite easily.