When we think of the word talent, however, we rarely think of those who stay up late at night studying to pass a civil service exam, or those who wake up at 4 a.m. to bake bread, those who open a small business, or those who fill their homes and their friends’ homes with colorful paintings and portraits. One of the definitions of talent is “an intelligent person or one fit for a specific occupation.” And here’s the thing: it can be any person, and of course, any occupation.

But do we all have talent? The short answer is yes; you just need to look inward. George Lucas, one of the most acclaimed film directors in the world, put it clearly: “Everybody has talent, it’s just a matter of moving around until you’ve discovered what it is.” Sometimes you don’t even need to move, and that’s because sometimes, talent is innate: you’re born with it and it develops over time, showing up in a natural way. Still, there’s no sure way to know if you have innate talent, because most of the time, talent comes from applied work: what we call acquired talent. Trying this, trying that, figuring out what we like and what we don’t, helps us see not only what we’re capable of doing well but also what we truly enjoy.

Why is it important to emphasize this? Because “ordinary mortals” also have a lot of talent. And for a territory like Biscay (and any other, for that matter), creating, developing, attracting, and retaining talent, even if it’s “small” or for a “small” task, is essential for all the people living here to have the chance at an even better life. And as always, BizkaiaTech Magazine is here to inspire, showcase, and share options so that you too can be part of this network of ordinary talents that, in reality, are extraordinary. Want to know what we’ve got in store for you this time?

IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES

In this edition of BizkaiaTech Magazine, we’ll talk about talent in many of its forms. We’ll discuss retaining young talent that is leaving, but we´ll not only focus on young people; we’ll also talk about adults or seniors who, to benefit their health (or satisfy their curiosity), decide to take up or begin learning something new at a later stage in life.

We’ll of course talk about several programs in Biscay to show that our territory is certainly not lacking in talent: we’ll highlight BAT Tower, a space where all STEAM skills come together to shine with ideas, projects, and plenty of collaboration; we’ll talk about Formula Student Bizkaia, a project by the Bilbao School of Engineering that helps young people pursue their passion for motorsport; we’ll talk about Bizkaia Talent, a program that aims to attract, connect, and retain qualified individuals in the processes of knowledge and innovation; and last but not least, we’ll dive into the scientific Olympiads, an initiative led by the University of the Basque Country (EHU) that brings young people closer to scientific competitions.

In addition, true to BizkaiaTech Magazine’s style, we’ll take a closer look at the A in STEAM with insights from Arantza Lauzirika, PhD in Art and Audiovisual Media, and Professor at the EHU Fine Arts Faculty, who will explain the role of AI in human creativity.

The human perspective on science and technology is also one of our strongest hallmarks. That’s why Mentxu Ramilo will talk to us about foreign talent and several initiatives to boost it, while Miren Munitis will focus on children and how to foster their critical thinking through an educational lens.

Finally, would you know how to answer the difference between searching for a job and searching for a restaurant on the Internet? In the following pages, you’ll find out.

So, maybe you don’t have an exceptional talent that would land you on the cover of Time magazine. But if you’d like, in the future, you could have a small feature in BizkaiaTech Magazine. Because showcasing local talent… well, you could say that’s our thing. And if you don’t believe us, discover it firsthand by diving into these pages… Fair warning: you won’t regret it.