Who can take part in the CASSINI Hackathons?

Any person of legal age who resides in the European Union (any country) or in a non-EU country associated with Horizon Europe (or in ongoing negotiations for an association) and is 18 years or older.

Where can I register?

You can register here. Registrations will be open until 15 November. 

Do I have to register with a team?

No, not at all. All participants must register as an individual and form the team after registering using the hackathon platform. Instructions will be provided after the registration process is complete.

Do I have to know how to code to participate?

No, we encourage anyone with a passion for entrepreneurship, nature, and EU space technologies to participate. Bring your creative, business or design skills to a team!

Can I apply if I have no knowledge of Copernicus, Galileo or EGNOS data and signals?

Yes! We will provide you with the relevant training and access to data that you will need to succeed - even without prior knowledge.

Can I apply if I don’t have a concept in mind prior to the hackathon?

Yes! Before the hackathon comes The Big Idea campaign. This week-long series of events will set the scene and allow participants to meet and form teams (if they haven't already done so). This provides the opportunity for teams and participants to brainstorm ideas, share thoughts and pitch their ideas. It is not required to have a concept or idea in mind prior to application.

If there is no hackathon organised in my country, can I apply to the nearest one?

Yes. The 8th CASSINI Hackathon will be held in a hybrid form in each location unless otherwise stated on the Location pages. If you do not intend to travel to the hackathon, but still wish to participate, please register and indicate that you will participate virtually. We will contact you in case that this is not possible.

Am I the sole owner of the project I develop during the hackathon?

The ownership of any Intellectual Property (IP) developed by participants during and within the scope of the hackathon will remain with the team of participants or the individual team members. Please make sure that you have an agreement within your team about the assignment of IP rights for the IP developed within the scope of the hackathon and about the use or (re-)assignment of any pre-existing IP rights that individual team members bring in.

How do I apply to become a local organiser?

For information on how to apply for future CASSINI Hackathons, take a look at our Collaborate as an organiser page for more information and to apply.

When will I know if we have been selected?

Selection will take place around 3-4 weeks after the applications deadline. 

Am I responsible for setting the hackathon’s theme and challenges?

No. Each edition will have a central theme and challenges. As a local organiser, you can choose to focus on one or more of the specific challenges, but it is not possible to set your own.

Do I need to have partners and sponsors for our local hackathon?

No. Partners and sponsors are not an eligibility requirement, however, you are encouraged to make your hackathon as engaging and interesting as possible. We therefore recommend you consider including partners and sponsors as a part of your application.

What support will I receive as a local organiser?

Local organisers will benefit from a support package worth 35,000 euro. This includes:

• A general expense budget of EUR 24,000 for any costs that are real and directly related to the provision of the services. 
• A communication & promotion package with a value of EUR 8,000 that will be provided in kind and centrally coordinated.

Do I need to provide tools to hackers as an organiser?

Participants will have access to a centrally organized toolkit that includes a wide range of resources. This includes satellite data, access to analytics platforms, and training sessions tailored to the hackathon's theme. The toolkit also offers open-source software, expert mentoring, and additional tools to support innovation. For a complete overview of the available resources, visit the Tools Page on the CASSINI Hackathons website.

How do I register to become a mentor?

Register to become a mentor on our website here.

As a mentor, how many hours am I expected to spend communicating with my mentee during the six-month partnership?

The mentoring programme per team consists of 100 hours of mentoring spread over 6 months. These hours are spread across several experts in blocks of 5 hours. It could be that you are engaged more than once in any given mentoring programme.

How are mentoring matches made?

After identifying the start-ups’ objectives and needs, we will reach out to mentor applicants that best fit the team's mentoring needs.

Will I be reimbursed for my time?

Yes, based on provided services, your mentoring services will be reimbursed up to 100 EUR / hour.

Can I be a mentor in multiple editions of the CASSINI Hackathons?

Yes, we would welcome your expertise back to support future winners.