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UM leading ethical AI in research and innovation

As AI continues to redefine the boundaries of the manufacturing industry, UM has taken a leading role in ensuring this digital transformation is underpinned by robust ethical frameworks. Prof. Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza and Dr Ing. Edward Abela, both from the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (DIME) within the Faculty of Engineering, recently represented the University at a pivotal transnational project meeting held in Iceland between 25 and 28 February 2026. This meeting was held as part of the INDEMIA4AI project Building universities’ institutional capacity and readiness to address ethical implications of AI-driven technologies for R&I through academia-industry collaboration.

The meeting, hosted by University of Akureyri and Iceland California, brought together a high-level consortium including Kainotomia (Greece) and Polytechnic University of Bucharest (Romania). It served as a strategic launchpad to review project progress and coordinate the next stages of the INDEMIA4AI initiative. By combining expertise from higher education institutions and innovation organisations across Europe, the partnership is working to develop innovative approaches that support universities, educators, and students in using AI in a responsible, transparent, and ethical manner.

Bridging the Readiness Gap

The project responds to a pressing challenge where AI technologies are rapidly transforming research, yet institutions often lack the structured frameworks to govern their ethical use. The project aims to bridge this gap by establishing the INDEMIA4AI competence framework, a blueprint for integrating AI ethics and literacy into teaching and research practices in the context of manufacturing engineering. A key focus of the recent sessions in Iceland was the development of a structured Capacity Building Programme. This programme is designed to equip engineering educators with the pedagogical tools and digital competences required to navigate issues such as algorithmic bias, research integrity, and data privacy. The meeting was instrumental in aligning methodologies, particularly regarding the development of a curriculum and an online course. These resources will be implemented through a variety of Living Labs, which are experiential environments where students, educators, and AI experts collaborate to solve real-world ethical dilemmas.

From Policy to Practice

Beyond training, the project focuses on long-term systemic impact. The consortium will validate these resources in real-world engineering educational settings to generate evidence-based insights. These results will ultimately inform policy recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional readiness across the European Higher Education Area. Through its involvement in INDEMIA4AI, the University of Malta is not only supporting sustainable educational models but is also promoting stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and policy stakeholders to ensure a responsible AI-driven future.

For more information about the INDEMIA4AI project and the University of Malta’s involvement, visit the .