Taking place across eight European countries from 15 to 17 October 2026, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon gives startups, deep-tech teams and defence-focused innovators three days to stress-test their existing solutions against the real defence challenges facing Europe.
This is not a theoretical exercise. Over 48 hours, every team gets direct exposure to how the defence sector actually operates. Working alongside defence experts and end-users, stress-testing their solution against real operational needs, and building a network that extends well beyond their home country.
Under the theme Autonomy on the Battlefield, this edition goes beyond a typical hackathon. Designed as part of the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) under the European Defence Fund, the hackathon is built around producing tangible, defence-relevant outcomes.
Now in its fifth edition, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon builds on a track record of four successful editions, more than 2,300 participants and 30 hackathons across the 27 EU Member States and Norway, continuing to strengthen Europe’s defence innovation ecosystem and connect mature technologies with real operational needs.
The Autumn 2026 hackathon takes place simultaneously across eight countries: Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal and Sweden, bringing together innovators from across Europe within a coordinated, EU-level framework. Participants from EU Member States, Norway and Ukraine are welcome to apply and may join any of the eight hackathon locations, regardless of their country of origin. All hackathons take place on site. Ready to take part? Register here to secure your spot.
An opportunity for winners to test and grow
The value of EUDIS doesn’t start and end on the podium. For winning teams, the hackathon is only the entry point into something much bigger: a structured programme built to turn a promising prototype into a genuinely defence-ready solution. One that doesn’t just work technically, but actually fits how the defence market operates, from business model to positioning to market strategy.
While most hackathons stop at the closing ceremony, EUDIS keeps going: winners will be paired with a dedicated Key Mentor for a structured follow-on programme, starting with an introduction to how the defence sector works and followed by 1:1 sessions to map out exactly what support each team needs.
From there, teams join a defence innovation bootcamp covering venture development, defence-market realities and customer validation, with a hands-on pitch workshop built in. A dedicated pitch mentor stays on afterwards to keep refining the pitch and the programme culminates in the chance to present at major European events like the EDF Info Days, in front of the investors and decision-makers shaping where defence innovation funding goes next.
Whether you are there to test your tech against real challenges, meet the people building Europe’s defence ecosystem, or go all the way through the mentoring track, the EUDIS Defence Hackathon is built to move teams forward, not just award them a prize.
For media enquiries, partnerships or additional information, please contact:
contact@eudis-hackathon.eu
