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EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)
Defence Hackathons

Put your innovative ideas to the challenge

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EUDIS Hackathon's webpage

Hackathons are awareness and outreach events that help to develop innovative solutions for EU defence actors and bring together people with different expertise and background to solve defence challenges.

They are an excellent opportunity to attract highly skilled individuals and early start-up businesses to the defence sector and match end-users with industry.

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Rewards & Benefits

  • Individuals form teams to participate in hackathons. Hackathons challenge the teams’ novel ideas in a competitive and co-operative learning environment.

     

     

  • The winning teams receive awards, such as a follow-up mentoring program, designed to help them advance the development of their solutions. Therefore, hackathons can speed-up the development cycle of SMEs or start-ups.

     

     

  • Broadly, hackathons offer SMEs, start-ups, and researchers an exciting opportunity to learn more about defence and enter this sector. It also helps existing defence start-ups to find new ways for cooperation and connection with military end-users.

  • Use your ideas and solutions to solve a challenge
  • Receive professional feedback and mentoring during the hackathon event
  • Experience a stimulating, creative, and co-operative learning environment
  • Compete in EU/Norway-wide simultaneous events in several locations
  • Benefit from an attractive follow-up mentoring program for winners
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What is a hackathon?

A hackathon is an idea-sprint event where individuals come together, form teams and collaboratively build a unique solution to a problem from scratch in a limited time. Hackathons will be held simultaneously in several locations in EU/Norway.

These events aim at solving challenges and problems for military end-users with clear solutions. They connect young STEM researchers with defence industrial entrepreneurs and military end-users. They attract young innovators and help them to discover innovative solutions for defence capability and technology needs. Hackathons usually serve as an excellent awareness-raising occasion to promote skills and opportunities for the defence industry.

EUDIS Hackathon 2024

The first EUDIS Hackathon took place on 31 May to 2 June 2024

The theme of the hackathon was “Digital in Defence”. Results from the hackathon is published on the contractor’s EUDIS hackathon webpage.

  • Hackathon participants

    275

  • Hackathon teams involved

    70

  • Mentors and experts

    79

  • Innovative solutions developed

    70

  • Winning teams

    6

  • Hours hacked

    48

  • Voluntary prizes from local organisers

    32

  • EU Member States/Norway represented

    16

Hackathon 2024 Winners

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One “free” weekend turned into an amazing future-changing experience for us. During the Hackathon, not only did we meet new international friends, we also started building professional relationships and learnt a lot about innovation and the Defence industry in a very pleasant hands-on manner. The mentorship programme and the coaches really help in making our invented solution a reality and in founding a Defence start-up company. It’s well-balanced and covers a lot of business school topics.

EUnify Team, Dieter Lambrecht (Belgium)

Through EUDIS, we have cultivated an environment that encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and technical excellence. The hackathon teams have not only showcased their skills but have also demonstrated remarkable teamwork and resilience under pressure. It is a joy to guide them, provide insights, and witness their growth throughout the process.

Aquahub Team, Karol (Poland) - Undergraduate at University of Manchester, School of Physics and Astronomy

Being a mentor for the EUDIS Hackathons has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The energy and enthusiasm of the teams are contagious, and their dedication to learning and innovation is truly inspiring. Watching these talented individuals collaborate, problem-solve, and push boundaries has reaffirmed my belief in the power of collective creativity and determination. The EUDIS Hackathons are not just a platform for innovation; they are a testament to the potential of passionate minds working together towards a common goal.

Ivo Remmelg, Angel investor, Startup mentor
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Space & Defence CASSINI Hackathon 2024

Feeling driven to solve more challenges? 

Participate in the Space & Defence CASSINI Hackathon on 22-24 November 2024

Apply now here!

FAQ

Frequently asked questions on EUDIS Hackathons