From 11 to 14 May 2026, the Federated Learning Hackathon took place in Cyprus. The initiative, organised within the framework of the HemaFAIR project, focused on federated learning, federated health data analysis, and Ontology-Based Data Access. 

Fondazione Gianni Benzi actively contributed to the event with a dedicated lecture on “Privacy, Ethics, and Responsible Research”, delivered by our researcher Annalisa Landi. The presentation addressed the key privacy issues and ethical challenges of federated ecosystems applied to healthcare and presented the main best practices and related governance. 

During her presentation, Annalisa explored key issues of federated learning and analysis approaches including the re-identification risk and the ethical challenges leading to unequal quality of care. The applicable EU GDPR provisions and best practices were presented, and the importance of integrating technological innovation with regulatory compliance and ethical responsibility was emphasised. Particular attention was given to rare diseases, where the sensitivity and fragmentation of clinical data make the adoption of secure and transparent technologies, as well as the establishment of clear agreements defining the roles and responsibilities of involved parties, essential. 

The main objectives of the Hackathon were to promote FAIR methodologies for health data, encouraging the use of federated analysis approaches and federated learning tools, and fostering collaborative ecosystems capable of advancing research while safeguarding patients’ rights. Fondazione Gianni Benzi’s participation within both the panel of speakers and the organising committee reflects the organisation’s increasingly significant role within European networks dedicated to advancing the innovation in digital health research.