Nicosia: Registrations have opened for the fifth edition of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon, which will take place simultaneously in eight European countries, including Cyprus, from 15 to 17 October 2026, according to a press release published on Monday by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS).
According to Cyprus News Agency, the autumn edition will be held onsite in Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. The event is aimed at engineers, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), researchers, developers, and defence professionals.
The Commission's press release highlights that the main theme of this year's event is 'Autonomy on the Battlefield'. Participants are invited to develop technological solutions that address real operational challenges. In addition to two common challenges, each host country will propose a third challenge reflecting regional priorities and expertise.
Over the course of the three days, participants will work in teams, receiving support from mentors from the defence industry, research organisations, and operational environments. The aim is to develop solutions that address specific defence capability needs. The event also seeks to connect participants with defence experts, end-users, companies, and other actors in Europe's defence innovation ecosystem.
For the teams that stand out, participation will not end with the Hackathon. According to the announcement, the winning teams will enter a two-month mentoring programme, where they will receive specialised support on product development, business strategy, and positioning in the European defence market. Participants will also take part in a dedicated defence innovation bootcamp and have opportunities to present their proposals to investors and other stakeholders.
Registrations for the autumn edition are already open, targeting startups, SMEs, engineering teams, researchers, and technology professionals from eligible countries.