SMERALD Datathon in Palermo – Exploring Data and AI Through Real Challenges

On 13–14 June 2025, the SMERALD partnership hosted its first Datathon in Palermo – a hands-on event designed to help SMEs, nonprofits, public authorities, and educators experience the practical use of digital data, data analysis, and AI.

The Datathon followed a hybrid format: participants joined both on-site in Palermo and online from across Europe. After two days of intense work, all teams presented their results during an online meeting on 16 June.

What the Datathon Was About

A Datathon is a fast-paced, collaborative event where participants tackle real problems using real data. The SMERALD Datathon focused on four challenge areas:

  1. Using AI and data to improve organisational processes
  2. Designing engaging data and AI training for SMEs
  3. Evaluating data quality and proposing improvements
  4. Open challenge – participants’ own ideas aligned with SMERALD’s goals

Teams analysed datasets, used AI tools, cleaned and visualised data, and developed small prototypes or concepts that can be transferred to real organisational contexts.

What Came Out of It

The event produced:

  • use cases showing how SMEs and organisations can apply data and AI;
  • training concepts that connect real problems to tailored learning;
  • data quality assessments with practical recommendations;
  • and ideas for integration into the SMERALD learning platform.

Participants worked closely with CNR, Eurotraining, blinc, and other partners, turning raw data into insight and insight into strategy — exactly the kind of practical literacy SMERALD aims to promote.

Why It Matters

The Datathon demonstrated that data analysis and AI become accessible when learning is:

  • hands-on,
  • problem-driven,
  • collaborative,
  • and directly connected to organisational needs.

It provided a concrete model for how SMEs and VET providers can engage with digital technologies in meaningful, low-barrier ways — and several of the ideas developed during the event will be included in the Implementation Strategy and platform materials.

SMERALD Website