24 - 26 April
Rome
On-site
Join the Hackathon in Rome!
Is it time to add space technology skills – and a real project – to your resumé? Join the 11th CASSINI Hackathon to access EU space data and develop a solution which protects our natural water resources.
You don’t need any experience: you’ll get all the training and tools to utilise EU space data and tackle the issues of water scarcity, flooding, or pollution. Over three days in Rome, you’ll hear from experts in space tech and environmental industries. You’ll learn how to access datasets from Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. Then you’ll connect with other professionals to form a multi-skilled team. This edition has three challenges on the theme of water:
- Securing equitable and efficient access to water
- Tracking and preventing water pollution
- Disaster risk monitoring
Lazio stands at the forefront of Italy’s blue economy, ranking first nationwide for the number of enterprises active in maritime and marine-related sectors. With over 35,000 sea-linked businesses—more than 30,000 concentrated in Rome and its province—the Region combines economic scale with long-term strategic vision. Through sustained investments in coastal valorisation, ecosystem protection, sustainable fisheries, port innovation and maritime logistics, Lazio has positioned itself as a driving force in sustainable maritime growth.
What makes Lazio truly distinctive, however, is the powerful convergence between sea and space. The Region hosts one of Europe’s most relevant aerospace and research ecosystems, centred in the Tuscolana Research Area, where institutions such as the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana and ESA-ESRIN operate alongside leading universities and national research centres. This unique concentration of scientific excellence enables the development of advanced satellite-based solutions for environmental monitoring, water management, coastal resilience, and climate adaptation.
In this context, the CASSINI Hackathon represents a strategic catalyst. By leveraging European space technologies to address pressing challenges related to water and sustainability, the Hackathon creates a bridge between research, entrepreneurship, and territorial development. It empowers students, innovators, and startups to transform space data into tangible solutions for maritime ecosystems, blue growth, and resource protection.
Lazio is therefore not only a leader in the blue economy—it is a natural laboratory where sea, space, research, and innovation converge to shape sustainable development for the future.
Local prizes:
- 1st place: €2,500
- 2nd place: €1,500
- 3rd place: €1,000
Central prizes:
Additionally, the local winners will qualify for the European competition, where they will receive the following prizes:
- 1st place: €5,000
- 2nd place: €3,000
- 3rd place: €1,000
Mentoring
The top 3 teams across all competing hackathons will each be awarded an additional 6 months of expert mentoring by CASSINI.
Coming soon!
Named after Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 355–415 AD), a symbol of scientific excellence and intellectual independence, Hypatia Research Consortium is an established interdisciplinary hub for research, innovation, and impact-driven technology transfer.
Located in the Area Tuscolana district south of Rome—an area known for its high concentration of research institutions and high-tech enterprises—Hypatia operates within a dynamic innovation ecosystem ideally suited to hosting and scaling European initiatives. Founded in 2008 and formally established as a Research Consortium in 2013, it connects universities, public research bodies, and industry to transform frontier research into market-ready solutions.
A key milestone in its development was the creation of the KETLab (Key Enabling Technologies Lab) in 2015 and the establishment of the Fondazione E. Amaldi in collaboration with the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana. Through these initiatives, Hypatia has strengthened its leadership in the space downstream sector, promoting the use of Earth Observation data from Copernicus and navigation services from Galileo for applications such as environmental monitoring, climate resilience, disaster risk management, and sustainable water management.
Supported by a network of specialised SMEs and technology-driven companies across strategic sectors, Hypatia provides technical mentorship, real-world use cases, and validation pathways that enable rapid prototyping and scalable innovation. Combining scientific excellence, industrial expertise, and strategic vision, Hypatia plays a pivotal role in delivering high-impact research and innovation initiatives at both national and European level.
Fondazione E. Amaldi is the Italian foundation established in 2017 by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Hypatia Research Consortium with the purpose of promoting applied scientific research and technology transfer, particularly in the space sector as a driver of economic development, innovation, and national competitiveness. The foundation supports companies, research institutions, and startups in advancing disruptive space technologies and growing within the new space economy. Its activities include fostering research and innovation projects, open innovation initiatives, awareness‑building events for the space ecosystem, and innovation finance services designed to facilitate access to investments and strategic partnerships.
Pro.M.Oda is a young and dynamic engineering company driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to resilience. Operating at the forefront of advanced technologies, the company develops integrated solutions that strengthen operational efficiency and support secure, sustainable growth across critical sectors. With deep expertise in defence-oriented and technologically complex environments, Pro.M.Oda has established itself as a trusted partner for mission-driven teams, startups, and enterprises seeking to turn ambitious ideas into practical, high-impact solutions.The company’s work spans three core areas: designing and validating complex systems for security-sensitive and mission-critical applications; developing cybersecurity and digital protection frameworks that safeguard critical data and infrastructure; and applying artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches to enable autonomous, intelligent operations.
SEDS Italy is a national student-led association dedicated to advancing the space sector by connecting top Italian universities with industry and research. The network brings together students from multiple disciplines to collaborate on hands-on projects, training programs, outreach activities and events that promote space exploration, education and innovation. Through partnerships with companies, institutions and government bodies, SEDS Italy empowers the next generation of space leaders and creates opportunities for professional growth and networking across the Italian and European space ecosystem.
Teseas is an Italian company operating at the intersection of technology, innovation, and sustainability. It leverages market opportunities to deliver innovative and competitive solutions, with the mission of building a sustainable technological future by driving change and equipping businesses with the tools and methodologies they need to manage complexity. Teseas operates across several strategic domains, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, climate and environmental sciences, and biotechnology and life sciences.