Brussels, 14 February 2024
Today, the Commission opens a first call for expression of interest to select six local organisers for the first edition of the Defence Hackathons under the European Union Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). Innovation facilitators in the EU Member States and Norway are invited to register and may be selected as one of the six local organisers. The event will take place from 31 May to 2 June 2024.
A hackathon is an idea-sprint event where individuals come together, form teams and collaboratively build a unique solution to a challenge in a limited time. The EUDIS Hackathons aim to stimulate defence innovation and attract new talents to the defence sector. This Hackathon is the first of a series of EUDIS Hackathons that will be simultaneously organised in the coming four years in several EU Member States and Norway.
Commissioner Breton said:
“It is crucial to involve EU top talents for the digital threats and opportunities given by the rapid technology development. This very first EU defence hackathon idea-sprint event offers a unique platform for individuals to come together, form teams and co-operatively build unique solutions to real-life defence challenges in a limited time.”
The theme of the first edition of defence hackathons is “Digital in Defence”. Several challenges will be designed under this theme. Teams of students or young engineers will compete to come up with the best solutions for the challenges. Experts from defence ministries, innovation ecosystems and defence industry will guide the teams during the event and sit in the panels that will select the best solutions.
The call will be open until 11 March 2024, 12:00 CET. Interested local organisers can access the application form.
Source – EU Commission