This November, the European Commission's CASSINI Hackathon returns, this time focusing on challenges aimed at enhancing Europe's security and defence capabilities through innovative uses of European space technologies. We invite you to mark your calendars for 22–24 November and join us at the Venture Factory, which is proud to host the event in Slovenia for the third consecutive year.

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70 motivated participants

The CASSINI Hackathon brings together 70 highly motivated participants for an exciting two-and-a-half-day innovation sprint. Students from technical, science, and business disciplines, along with members of startups and established companies, will work in teams under the guidance of expert mentors to develop cutting-edge technological solutions and business models for three critical challenges.

Participants will also have exclusive access to data from European space programs such as Copernicus, Galileo, EGNOS, and IRIS², providing a rich foundation for their ideas. Learn more about these programs and how they can help drive innovation at the hackathon here.

Calling ambitious companies and mentors

The CASSINI Hackathon presents a unique opportunity for companies to make their mark in the community, connect with talented and ambitious individuals, and collaborate on groundbreaking, out-of-the-box solutions. It’s also a fantastic way to transform the hackathon into an innovative team-building event for your company, as successfully demonstrated by industry leaders like Zavarovalnica Sava, GEN-I, and many others.

We encourage companies eager to help shape breakthrough solutions based on open innovation to get involved. By offering your knowledge, experience, and resources, you’ll be contributing to challenges that align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Supporting this hackathon means supporting the development of solutions that tackle pressing global issues while positioning your company at the forefront of innovation.

Mentors also play a vital role in the hackathon’s success. By bringing their energy, expertise, and experience, they will fuel the creative momentum of the participants and guide them toward impactful outcomes.

Hackathons offer a fertile ground for innovation, networking, and unlocking new business opportunities. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exciting event!

If you're interested, book a 30-minute online call with Urban. 

You can also contact him via email: urban.lapajne@tovarnapodjemov.org

This year's challenges

CHALLENGE #1: Enhancing Defence & Security with Geospatial Intelligence

The goal is to develop innovative products and services that can be readily utilized by planners, emergency responders, and decision-makers.

We encourage participants to explore the following areas:

• Geospatial intelligence for defence, humanitarian aid, contingency planning, and security surveillance,
• Geospatial intelligence new services,
• Cybersecurity for remote sensing,
  Ensure authentication of EO data.

CHALLENGE #2: Unmanned Drone Applications for Defence & Security Operations

Maintaining situational awareness and tracking incidents form a crucial part of any operational strategy, particularly for defence, surveillance and rescue services like fire departments and police forces.

The aim is to enable sustainable and impactful solutions in the following areas:

• Information gathering,
• Emergency responder safety,
• Cybersecurity of drone operations,
• Data integrity,
• Misuse of drones.

CHALLENGE #3: Space Manoeuvres: A Tabletop Challenge

In this challenge, we invite participants to work together with one of our technological partners to develop safer operations in Space. The challenge will feature a unique tabletop exercise where teams will participate in a discussion-based simulation to identify risks and develop response plans.

Got an idea for a solution?

We are on the lookout for individuals, and you might be one of them! Are you a student, a professional, a startup, a business or a humanitarian NGO? Applications are not open yet, but keep your​ eyes peeled for 19 September!

Incredible energy in the room

We are proud to say that for the third time in a row, Venture Factory has been selected as one of 10 different organizers of the CASSINI Hackathon across Europe. We invite you to take a look at the energy that was brewing among the participants of last year's event.

"We are proud that the European Commission has entrusted us with the co-organization of the CASSINI Hackathon in Slovenia for the third year in a row, which proves that they have recognized our enthusiasm, extensive experience and references. We are looking forward to an exciting challenge, for which we are extremely grateful and are looking forward to it," said Matej Rus, CEO of Venture Factory.

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