Aspen Institute España is organizing the Socrates Seminar 2026 in Málaga, marking the first time that the Andalusian city will host Aspen Institute’s flagship seminar.

Held in partnership with the Aspen Institute España, the Socrates España Seminar will take place from May 21-23, 2026. Socrates international seminars include three seminar sessions, program meals, and local excursions/tours. Seminar tuition is $3,000, which includes lodging, materials, and meals. Tuition does not include travel. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in participating  

Governance of AI in Europe

This Socrates Seminar will be devoted to the governance of AI in Europe, and will feature Leigh Hafrey, Senior Lecturer in Behavioral and Policy Sciences at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a longtime moderator in Aspen programs, as a moderator. Málaga stands out as an ideal place to hold this seminar due to its emerging relevance as a tech hub in Spain and in Europe.

The topic of AI and its governance could not be more current or relevant. Approaches to the regulation of AI vary widely from country to country, ranging from the laissez-faire strategy (combined with a flurry of protectionist measures) preferred by the United States of America, to the more regulatory approach adopted by the EU. This has resulted in tensions between both Trans-Atlantic allies. The advances of AI in China, which seeks to compete with the USA, are also a challenge to the EU’s capacity to develop its own framework in its quest to bolster its security and to find its own place in an increasingly competitive and fragmented world.

This seminar will put the limelight on the EU’s (and Europe’s) capacity to develop its digital sovereignty. As the US and China gear up to a Cold War-like scenario where technological prowess, especially the control and harnessing of AI capabilities, emerges as a key domain of contemporary geopolitics, Europe finds itself in a conundrum. The EU Commission has vowed to reduce dependencies on critical materials and on digital capacities such as data gathering and processing, and to further the Digital Single Market. But making these plans a reality will require hard choices and an encompassing conversation among several stakeholders, to which Aspen Institute España aims to contribute.

2026 marks Aspen Institute España’s 15th year celebrating a Socrates Seminar, reaffirming its position as one of the most emblematic and longstanding activities of our institution. Celebrating this milestone in Málaga, the first time that this city will host this seminar, would be a confirmation of Socrates Seminar’s expansion of its frontiers and reaching new audiences.

Moderator: Leigh Hafrey is Senior Lecturer in Behavioral and Policy Sciences at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a longtime Aspen moderator.