Third Edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon: A Convergence of Innovation and Collaboration
Dates and Scope
From 17 to 19 October 2025, the third iteration of the EU Defence Innovation Scheme’s (EUDIS) Defence Hackathon, facilitated by BraveTech EU, convened 471 participants across eight European sites, with a notable presence of Ukrainian participants in nearly all venues. This collaborative effort produced 129 inventive solutions aimed at tackling some of the most urgent challenges in the realms of space and defense.
Objectives of the EUDIS Hackathons
The EUDIS Hackathons are designed to stimulate creativity, enhance collaboration, and elevate technological standards in alignment with Europe’s defense and security imperatives, while also providing support to Ukraine.
Locations and Themes
The hackathon took place across the following eight locations:
- Fondazione E. Amaldi (Italy)
- Bayern Innovativ GmbH (Germany)
- Arribes Enlightenment (Spain)
- Stichting dotSPACE (Netherlands)
- Romanian Tech Startups Association (Romania)
- Prague Innovation Institute (Czech Republic)
- Blue Dot Solutions (Poland)
- Productized (Portugal)
This year’s theme, “Technologies for Space and Defence,” concentrated on three principal challenges:
- Safeguarding of space assets
- Utilization of space for defense capabilities
- Promotion of sovereign aerospace initiatives
Intensive Collaboration and Expert Guidance
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in rigorous collaboration to design impactful solutions. Experts and mentors were on hand to lend support, while keynotes from leaders in defense, space exploration, and technological innovation served to motivate the participants. Each host site awarded prizes to winning teams, which included financial support, mentorship sessions, and opportunities to pilot solutions in real-world scenarios.
Selection of Winning Teams
At the conclusion of the hackathon, eight winning teams—one from each venue—were distinguished for their innovation, technical merit, and potential contributions to Europe’s defense and space capabilities. These teams will now enter a comprehensive mentoring phase to further develop their projects.
EUDIS Mentoring Programme
Beyond local accolades, these winning teams will participate in the EUDIS Mentoring Programme, a two-month initiative designed to enhance their solutions through expert mentorship. The culmination of their efforts will occur during a final pitching competition, where they will present their concepts to European stakeholders and vie for the ultimate prize.
The Role of European Collaboration
The EUDIS Hackathons exemplify how cross-border collaboration within Europe can stimulate advancements in defense and space. By uniting entrepreneurs, researchers, and specialists from various nations, this initiative contributes to the development of a robust, adaptive, and technologically proficient Europe.
For further details regarding upcoming editions and participation opportunities, please consult the official website: EUDIS Hackathon.
