Context · EUDIS · EU
EUDIS Defence Hackathon Spring 2026: Meet the Winning Teams Driving Innovation in Airspace Defence
EUDIS — EU Defence Innovation Scheme · published 01 Apr 2026 · auto-extracted, not yet reviewed · Source ↗
Deadline—
Budget / value—
Statusunknown
Summary
From 26 to 28 March 2026, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon returned across eight locations – the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain, bringing together some of Europe’s most promising innovators to tackle one of today’s most urgent defence challenges: Defending Airspace. Over the course of an intensive three-day sprint, Over […] The post EUDIS Defence Ha
Source text (raw, may be non-English)
From 26 to 28 March 2026, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon returned across eight locations – the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain, bringing together some of Europe’s most promising innovators to tackle one of today’s most urgent defence challenges: Defending Airspace. Over the course of an intensive three-day sprint, Over […] The post EUDIS Defence Hackathon Spring 2026: Meet the Winning Teams Driving Innovation in Airspace Defence appeared first on Eudis Defence Hackathon 2026 . Skip to content Blog EUDIS Defence Hackathon Spring 2026: Meet the Winning Teams Driving Innovation in Airspace Defence EUDIS Defence Hackathon Spring 2026: Meet the Winning Teams Driving Innovation in Airspace Defence April 1, 2026 From 26 to 28 March 2026, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon returned across eight locations – the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain, bringing together some of Europe’s most promising innovators to tackle one of today’s most urgent defence challenges: Defending Airspace . Over the course of an intensive three-day sprint, Over 580 participants — including startups, teams of engineers and defence innovators — worked side by side to adapt and validate their technologies against real operational needs. This edition focused on developing solutions that can strengthen Europe’s ability to detect, monitor, and respond to evolving aerial threats. Two core challenges — cost-effective drone interception and next-generation drone detection systems — were defined, addressing shared priorities across Member States. These were complemented by locally defined challenges , reflecting the specific strengths and needs of each national ecosystem, from maritime autonomous systems in Portugal to cognitive warfare in Poland and GNSS-denied navigation in France . Over the course of the weekend, participants collaborated to design, develop and pitch 169 innovative solutions , addressing concrete defence use cases rather than theoretical concepts. Teams worked in real testing conditions, including military bases, aeronautical research centres and former airbases, with access to live drone testing zones, large-scale flight areas and advanced prototyping facilities. In Spain, the hackathon took place within a Special Operations Command base, while in the Netherlands participants tested solutions in live drone scenarios. In the Czech Republic and Norway, teams benefited from dedicated flight zones, and in France and Romania from direct access to defence innovation agencies and advanced laboratories. This hands-on approach allowed teams to test and validate their technologies in environments closely aligned with real operational use cases. At the end of the hackathon, eight winning teams were selected, one per country: Czech Republic – MALNUS France – RUBICON Netherlands – ARQUS Norway – TIEPOINT Poland – RATTLESNAKE Portugal – RfSentinel Romania – SKY HUNTER Spain – ADAS.3 You can explore the winning teams and discover their solutions in more detail here: https://eudis-hackathon.eu/winners/ But for these teams, the hackathon is just the beginning. All winners will now enter the EUDIS Mentoring Programme, a two-month phase designed to help them further develop their technologies and connect with key actors in the European defence ecosystem. The team will also participate in dedicated EUDIS defence innovation bootcamp. This journey will culminate in a European-level pitching session, followed by opportunities for three best teams to take part in EU-level defence events. The Spring 2026 edition once again highlights the role of EUDIS as more than a hackathon. It is a gateway into the European defence innovation ecosystem, connecting startups and innovators with the right stakeholders, environments and opportunities to take their solutions further. Preparations are already underway for the next EUDIS Defence Hackathon, which will take place in autumn 2026. A new call for local organisers and participants will be announced soon. Stay tuned on the website for updates on upcoming opportunities and future editions. Recent posts April 27, 2026 The 5th edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon is here, and we are looking for our next 8 Local Organisers March 17, 2026 From Hackathon Winners to the European Stage: Three EUDIS Teams Pitch at the EDF Info Days February 25, 2026 EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2026: Empowering Mature Teams Through Follow-On Mentoring February 18, 2026 EUDIS Defence Hackathon Spring 2026 opens call for participants Share on socials
Related
Funding call
UKDI
· UK
· deadline 17 Sep 2026 (30d)
· €702k
Dstl is seeding low-TRL autonomy ideas with small, fast contracts and a signalled £600k Phase 2 follow-on, a low-barrier entry point into UK MOD autonomy work. Relevant to autonomy/robotics research teams and university-linked startups; note Stage 1 has already closed, so only invited applicants can now submit. Do: If invited at Stage 1, submit your Stage 2 proposal via the UKDI Online Submission Service before midday 17 September 2026; otherwise watch for the Phase 2 competition and the Dstl Autonomy Programme Incubator's next call.
Award
· Poland
· €17.5m
Continued build-out of Poland's main MALE UAV base (Mirosławiec) includes purpose-built hangars and hardened ground control station shelters, indicating sustained infrastructure spend around unmanned aviation. Relevant to construction subcontractors and to suppliers of GCS shelters, power/generator sets and airfield electrical/telecom systems in Poland. Do: Contact DUNA Polska S.A. and LOGON S.A. as subcontractor for hangar structures, shelter systems, MV/LV power and airfield telecom works at Mirosławiec.
Tender
· Sweden
· deadline 14 Sep 2026 (27d)
· €704k
Upphandlingen avser leda fram till ett ramavtal med en leverantör för att säkerställa effektiv och pålitlig tillgång till modern och framtidssäkrad UAS-förmåga. Behovet omfattar båda anskaffning av kompletterande enheter…
Award
· Spain
· €960k
De conformidad con el apartado 2 del CCP.
Award
· Portugal
· €4.5m
A mid-size civil/dual-use underwater robotics buy in an Atlantic region, won by a Spanish integrator rather than a Portuguese or northern-European ROV house — a reference point for UUV/ROV makers on who is winning Iberian research-vessel work. Relevant to ROV/UUV builders and subsea sensor, tether, manipulator and control-software suppliers. Do: If you supply subsea sensors, manipulators, tethers or ROV control software, approach OMIL & GONZALEZ SL as integrator for the Azores research-vessel ROV module build.
Context
UKDI
· UK
· deadline 27 Aug 2026 (9d)
UKDI is the main low-barrier UK entry point for single-company defence innovation funding, and the Defence-side route is being rebuilt after the Defence Investment Plan — meaning the Security Open Call is currently the only broad open door. Relevant to autonomy, space, sensing and security-tech scale-ups and SMEs able to bid alone without a consortium. Do: Submit to the Security Open Call 2026 Cycle 1 by 27 August 2026 or Innovation Support to Operations Cycle 8 by 22 September 2026 via the UKDI portal, and email accelerator@dstl.gov.uk for scope clarification; contact the UKDI Help Centre about Defence Innovation Loans while cycles are paused.
Source: https://eudis-hackathon.eu/eudis-defence-hackathon-spring-2026-meet-the-winning-teams-driving-innovation-in-airspace-defence/ — summarised by Rearm Radar; verify details at source before bidding. Enrichment: heuristic (confidence 40%).