It's a wrap on the 6th CASSINI Hackathon

Participants had the chance to apply their skills and knowledge to solve global challenges and make a positive impact.

We were looking for determined innovators with a passion for developing sustainable solutions, and we were not disappointed! No previous space experience was required. Participants simply chose their challenge of interest, and proceeded to leverage EU space technologies to innovate international development and humanitarian activities! Learn about the process to get involved:

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Join the Big Ideas Campaign
Join the Big Ideas Campaign
9-19 Oct
Form a team
Form
a team
Hack your way to success
Hack your way
to success
3-5 Nov

Challenge #

Supporting sustainable infrastructure development

Access to energy is a fundamental aspect of economic and social development, yet people in the world still lack access to electricity. Some of the most pressing issues of energy access consist of a lack of infrastructure and distribution to remote areas. Satellite data can help identify suitable areas for renewable energy development, such as solar and wind power. More, space-based timing and communication technologies can improve the coordination of energy systems and enable more efficient and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity.

This challenge called on tomorrow’s innovators to develop products, devices, or services that leverage European space data, information and signals from Copernicus and Galileo to enable sustainable and impactful solutions. We encouraged participants to dive into the following areas:

  • Spatial planning & site selection for infrastructure development
  • Renewable energy production forecasting
  • Future-proofing transportation & mobility infrastructure
  • Critical infrastructure monitoring and planning for remote communities
  • Assess damages to infrastructure caused by natural disasters or conflict
     

Challenge #

Strengthening food security & access to clean water

Access to food and water is a basic human right that remains a significant challenge for many populations around the world. Climate change, unsustainable land-use practices, and global supply chain disruptions further aggravate these challenges. Anticipating humanitarian crises and managing often-scarce resources are critical to strengthening overall access to food and water. Space technologies can contribute to improving food security by optimising land use, supporting accurate yield forecasting, and increasing supply chain resilience. They can improve access to clean water by identifying groundwater sites, understanding global water cycles, and monitoring and mitigating the effects of floods and droughts. Overall, space technologies have the power to enable humanitarian actors to better anticipate and prepare for future crises.

This challenge called on tomorrow’s innovators to develop products, devices, or services that leverage European space data, information and signals from Copernicus and Galileo to enable sustainable and impactful solutions. We encouraged participants to dive into the following areas:

  • Anticipatory action for extreme weather events, including impact-based assessments to the food value chain, water supplies, infrastructure and communities
  • Agricultural yield forecasts and optimisation 
  • Logistics & resource allocation for emergency humanitarian assistance
  • Land cover & land use monitoring
  • Access and management of groundwater
  • Monitor water quality parameters like algal bloom, cyanobacteria, suspended matter

Challenge #

Understanding and forecasting forced migration

Natural and man-made crises threaten the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable people worldwide every day. Rising sea levels erode shorelines, contributing to coastal flooding and increasing groundwater salinity, while changes in rainfall patterns affect water supplies and the availability of arable land in rural communities. War and conflict cause massive disruption to food and water supplies, personal security and property ownership. As a result, residents in these vulnerable areas are often forced to migrate in search of work or to ensure their safety. Space technologies can help us understand the impact of climate change on coastal and rural regions of less developed countries with insights on population movement and land use/land change. They can also support the design and delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need.

This challenge called on tomorrow’s innovators to develop products, devices, or services that leverage European space data, information and signals from Copernicus and Galileo to enable sustainable and impactful solutions. We encouraged participants to dive into the following areas:

  • Digital tools and big data in migratory processes and population movements
  • Planning, decision-making and resource allocation due to natural and man-made disasters
  • Transportation and logistics to support displaced communities
  • Impact of desertification in rural communities
  • Monitoring coastal communities and erosion

The hackathon locations

The 6th CASSINI Hackathon took place simultaneously across 10 different locations on
3-5 November 2023. Use the interactive map below to discover the locations!

  • Organised by:

    Algebra University College

    Zagreb, Croatia

    Algebra
  • Organised by:

    Garage48

    Tallinn, Estonia

    Garage48
  • Organised by:

    N3XTCODER

    Munich, Germany

    N3XTCODER
  • Organised by:

    stichting dotSPACE

    Amersfoort, Netherlands

    dotSPACE & Royal Haskoning DHV
  • Organised by:

    Krakowski Park Technologiczny sp. z o.o.

    Krakow, Poland

    KPT
  • Organised by:

    Ripply Flow, Lda

    Porto, Portugal

    Ripply
  • Organised by:

    Romania Tech Startups Association

    Bucharest, Romania

    ROTSA
  • Organised by:

    Tovarna podjemov (Venture Factory)

    Maribor, Slovenia

    Slovenia
  • Organised by:

    Fundació Privada Knowledge Innovation Market BCN

    Barcelona, Spain

    KIMbcn
  • Organised by:

    Ukrainian Startup Fund

    Ukraine

    USF
EU Space

Earth observation

Copernicus is the European Union’s Earth observation programme, looking at our planet and its environment to benefit all European citizens. It offers information services that draw from satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data.

More info...

 

 

Satellite navigation

Galileo is Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), providing improved positioning and timing information with significant positive implications for many European services and users.

More info...

 

 

The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is Europe’s regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that is used to improve the performance of global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs).

More info...

 

 

Secure connectivity

The IRIS2 Satellite Constellation will offer enhanced communication capacities to governmental users and businesses, while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones.

More info...

 

Secure connectivity

The European Union Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme provides secure and cost-efficient communications capabilities to security and safety critical missions.

More info...

 

Space situational awareness

The SSA initiative will provide Europe and its citizens with complete and accurate information on objects orbiting Earth, on the space environment and on threats coming from space.

More info...

 

The hackathon locations

The 6th CASSINI Hackathon took place simultaneously across 10 different locations on
3-5 November 2023. Use the interactive map below to discover the locations!