Connecting Madrid residents with career opportunities in AI and cloud technology

Residents from Algete, Meco, and San Sebastián de los Reyes now have a gateway to technology careers with the Microsoft Talent AI Madrid North project. The project kicked off in early 2025 with a series of bootcamps in AI, Microsoft Azure, and data science. Developed in collaboration with the Esplai Foundation, these intensive training sessions are designed to provide students with the skills and professional certifications they need to launch a career in the technology sector.

Building expertise in applied AI

The 2025 Talent AI training sessions followed a bootcamp format, offering students an accelerated course of intensive training that they could complete in a few months. The bootcamps featured two different tracks:

• AI applied to Azure, leading to Azure AI Engineer Associate certification.
• AI applied to data science, a specialization in high demand.

The courses were structured in a hybrid format, with 20 hours of in-person training and the remaining 130 to 160 hours online. The in-person training offered students a valuable opportunity to network with instructors and peers.

In total, 59 students from Algete, Meco, and San Sebastián de los Reyes completed the training sessions in April 2025, with many of them going on to obtain Microsoft certifications.

Connecting the dots between education and career

The AI bootcamps take a holistic approach to career development. In addition to technical skills, students learn a range of transferable professional skills to help them thrive in the rapidly changing technology sector. Gustavo Sánchez Cuadra, Director of Training and Employment at the Esplai Foundation, says, “Our objective is to accompany students in this training process so that they acquire technical knowledge, but also the soft skills necessary today in work environments that are in permanent transformation.” Participants also received career advice, including sessions and workshops focused on how to improve their résumé, LinkedIn profile, and how to perform well in a job interview.

To reach community members actively seeking a career in technology, the program targets people between 24 and 45 years old who have some formal training in technology, either through higher vocational training or university studies. The program is tailored to students who are looking to develop applied technical skills so they can secure a job in the growing cloud and AI sector. “This course in AI has allowed me to strengthen my skills, refocusing them for the current jobs market,” explained a graduate of the Azure AI bootcamp. A student in data science noted how the focused AI training allowed them to take control of their career path: “This course has given me opportunities. An opportunity to take a turn in my career, to face up to new changes, and to switch from fearing that AI will take away my job to be one of those leading the change.”

Growing local digital talent

The Microsoft Talent AI Madrid North project is part of a larger effort by Microsoft to help the community access the job market for skilled technology professionals. Ana Liesa, Head of Community Relations in Spain at Microsoft, says, “Our goal is to support projects in the field of employment, training, environmental sustainability, and social development in the towns where our datacenters are located.” North Madrid is home to “Spain Central,” a growing datacenter region supporting the most advanced AI and public cloud technologies.

Working with local councils and partners like Esplai Foundation, Microsoft is helping to fill the gap between university or vocational education and the job skills currently in demand in AI and cloud computing. The impact of the Talent AI program is evident in the students’ success. Upon completing the program, over 15% of the graduates had already secured jobs. More than 70% of graduates chose to further their IT training through the Digital Talent program, which offers free training on Microsoft technologies.

With targeted training and certification in these technologies, residents of the Community of Madrid have what it takes to tap into the growing opportunities in their region.