Listing Hackathons

hackaTUM is the official hackathon of the Department of Computer Science of the Technical University of Munich.

hackaTUM is the official hackathon of the Department of Computer Science of the Technical University of Munich.

Time to Accelerate the Aerospace! Join us and 100+ hackers from across Europe and beyond for the first Berlin Aerospace Hackathon, taking place at MotionLab.Berlin from November 21 to 23, 2025 🛰️ Over three days, you’ll join forces with engineers, developers, and aerospace innovators to tackle some of the most ambitious challenges in aviation and space—from next-gen propulsion and autonomous flight systems to satellite networks and orbital logistics. Whether you want to prototype reusable launch solutions, design advanced UAV control systems, or build open-source mission planning tools, this is your launchpad to experiment and execute. Expect hands-on mentorship from leading aerospace startups, direct feedback from industry pioneers, and opportunities to transform your hack into a real-world pilot project.

Europe’s first-ever Space Cybersecurity Hackathon, uniting top space institutions, cybersecurity and telecom experts, satellite engineers, ethical hackers, and trailblazing startups to tackle the toughest challenges in satellite security — and build practical software solutions within 24 hours — to protect Europe’s satellites, GPS, and telecom networks from cyberattacks, fortifying defenses in space and on Earth. When: October 17-18, 2025 Where: Madrid Digitaliza (calle Embajadores, 181, Madrid, Spain) For whom: Satellite engineers looking to apply their technical expertise to real-world cybersecurity threats.

As the name suggests, TOMfoolery brings a lighthearted and welcoming atmosphere; perfect for freshmen and students who may not yet be deeply familiar with modern technology. But don’t be fooled by the playful name :) The challenges participants will tackle are rooted in real-world issues, focusing on topics that impact both our local campus ecosystem and the broader regional environment.

Innovative anti-fiber optic drone solutions that integrate with Kaizen’s Drone Sentinel acoustic detection system via LoRaWan mesh networks (Meshtastic protocol). Build smart counter-UAV systems triggered by acoustic drone detection.

Time to Accelerate European Defense Innovation Join us and 120+ hackers from all across Europe and beyond for the European Defense Tech Hackathon on November 7–9, 2025, in Paris, France. After our first Paris hackathon with 170 attendees last November, we're excited to be back! This is your chance to connect with fellow defense innovators, meet potential co-founders, and work on projects that have the potential to save lives. We'll prepare challenges based on real-world problems, and you can bring your own project. You'll get feedback from experienced mentors, and we'll put you in a position to deploy your project in the real world after the hackathon 🚀 More information on our event website: https://eurodefense.tech/hackathons/paris-2025/

Time to Accelerate European Defense Innovation Join us and 200+ hackers from all across Europe and beyond for the European Defense Tech Hackathon on November 13-16, 2025, in Berlin, Germany, right before the Berlin Security Conference. We're excited to co-host the hackathon with the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub—the change agent of the Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces), connecting them with builders, startups, and innovative solutions. Goal We want to bridge the gaps between technologists, the public sector, investors, and operators in dual-use and defense technology. This hackathon will demonstrate the talent and drive of the European ecosystem.

Signal Intelligence. Combat First Aid. Maritime Dominance. Join us and 100+ hackers from across Europe and beyond for the European Defense Tech Hackathon on Aug 29-31, 2025, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Connect with fellow defense innovators, meet potential co-founders, and work on projects that have the potential to save lives! We'll prepare challenges based on real-world problems, and you can bring your own project. You'll get feedback from experienced mentors, and we'll put you in a position to deploy your project in the real world after the hackathon 🚀 More information on our event website: https://eurodefense.tech/hackathons/copenhagen-2025/

Europe is at a turning point: The need for faster, bolder defense innovation has never been greater. Our Defense against Drones Drone alerts are rising across Europe, and one of our most essential freedoms — the freedom to travel — is under threat. What could be effective against threats from the sky? Can we detect drones better? How can we defend ourselves?

Time to Accelerate European Defense Innovation! Join us and 100+ hackers from all across Europe and beyond for the European Defense Tech Hackathon in Hamburg in mid-October 2025! Goal We want to bridge the gaps between technologists, the public sector, investors, and operators in dual-use and defense technology. This hackathon will demonstrate the talent and drive of the European ecosystem. Get inspired by the challenges we have prepared, or feel free to bring your own project. You'll get feedback from folks who have been on the frontline to ensure you're solving real problems.

Build Europe's Tech Sovereignty Join 200 engineers, designers, and researchers in Gdańsk to prototype solutions that strengthen Europe's technological independence and critical infrastructure.

We will share updates on the event schedule, challenges etc. by the 04.09. so stay posted and apply for the event <3 You can apply as teams (up to 5) or as individuals.

Time to Accelerate Defense Innovation in Europe! Join us and 200+ hackers from across Europe and beyond for the European Defense Tech Hackathon, taking place on September 25–28, 2025, in London, UK—right before the Resilience Conference and as part of London Defence Tech Week. Connect with fellow defense innovators, meet potential co-founders, and build projects with real-world impact that could save lives. We’ll bring challenges rooted in pressing defense and security problems, and you’re welcome to bring your own ideas. Throughout the event, you’ll get hands-on guidance from seasoned mentors—and after the hackathon, we’ll help you take your project closer to real-world deployment 🚀

Time to Accelerate European Defense Innovation Join us and 100+ hackers from all across Europe and beyond for the European Defense Tech Hackathon on October 3-5, 2025, in Milan, Italy. Goal We want to bridge the gaps between technologists, the public sector, investors, and operators in dual-use and defense technology. This hackathon will demonstrate the talent and drive of the European ecosystem. Get inspired by the challenges we have prepared, or feel free to bring your own project. You'll get feedback from folks who have been on the frontline to ensure you're solving real problems.

EUR 22,000 of total cash prizes, Internship opportunities, and many more! Light Chaser (Optical Networks) or Future Network (Data Communications)

For four days, immerse yourself in the world of alternative protein innovation. Collaborate with industry mentors and peers from diverse backgrounds to develop groundbreaking solutions that address real-world challenges in sustainable food production. Culminate your experience with a final presentation showcasing your innovative ideas and solutions. Apply now!  Successful applicants will be invited to the overall kick-off meeting and team matchmaking session on June 06 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (CEST). What are alternative proteins? plant-based, cultivated meats, fermentation-derived Alternative proteins are an avenue to revolutionize the way we eat, offering sustainable and innovative alternatives to traditional animal products. Derived from plants, animal cells, or through fermentation, these cutting-edge foods replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional value of conventional meats, all while requiring fewer resources and producing fewer environmental impacts. From plant-based burgers to cultivated meats and fermentation-derived options, alternative proteins pave the way for a more ethical, efficient, and environmentally friendly food system, transforming the future of protein consumption for the better.   Challenges Upon successful selection, participants will be allowed to select a challenge from a list of challenges across plant-based, cultivated meat and fermentation-derived domains. Below are examples of what the challenges will look like:   provided by Dr. Oetker Clean-Label non-dairy Casein There are many proteins in milk with different properties and functionalities (different whey proteins and different caseins). Current vegan cheese alternatives usually have very little protein and no good functionality on pizza (hot application, mouth feel, stickiness, stringiness). Increasing the protein level deteriorates the textural properties even further. Is there a protein from nature that behaves like casein rather than like whey protein and can give melted cheese the desired properties? Creating sweetness: Clean label, non-Novel Food and not sugar / honey / fructose ecc. Sugar (in all its forms like honey, fructose, etc.) is not desirable from a nutritional point of view. Replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners is also not a feasible option for all foods. Is there a way to make products (focus on cakes, desserts, decorations and breakfast cereals) taste sweet without the harmful effects of sugar while maintaining a clean label (no e-number or consumer-scaring names) and possibly not even using Novel Foods? Different types of sweet proteins have been identified, do any of these meet the criteria or can you find an even better solution?   provided by Bühler Group Marbled plant-based meat High moisture extrusion is still the most widely used processing method to create meat analogues as the technology is easily scalable and mature. However, mimicking higher quality cuts of meat like marbled beef has proven to be difficult as increasing extrudates’ oil/ fat content can interfere with the protein texturization process due to their lubricating effect. Are there ways where we can add realistic marbling to high moisture meat analogues? Variation in protein functionalities Functionalities of different protein isolates/ concentrates vary greatly depending on their sources. However, even the same species can have different texturization behaviours because of cultivation and processing methods. While these differences are inevitable, there has been little to none done to create standardization in protein functionality literature. What would be the solution(s) to this issue?   provided by Happy Ocean Foods Plant-Based Seafood Clean-Label Challenge It is known that consumers are paying more attention to having less processed foods for health and sustainability reasons. Having a shorter and easy-to-understand ingredient list could help consumers to better understand that the alternative product is less processed, and therefore, it is a healthy and more sustainable choice increasing consumer acceptability for this segment. Your challenge is to identify ingredients and processing technologies that will allow to produce a plant-based shrimp, with max. 10 ingredients, additive-free, while having great taste, good texture, and good nutritional profile: high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and source of omega-3. Innovation Scale-Up Challenge Upscaling is one of the biggest challenges for start-ups trying to bring innovative products to the market. Maybe you have the best product with the most innovative process, but when coming to the upscaling stage you find out that changes might be needed, and that the industrial scale outcome of your product is not as good as the one you produced in the lab. Additionally, this comes with high costs since industrial machines often have a minimum volume to operate, as well as suppliers have a minimum order quantity (MOQ), which might be much higher than your planned sales volume, which has a big impact in your financial planning and success. Can you elaborate a plan for your start-up that would take this challenge upfront and have a successful product launch?   provided by ERIDIA  Heat integration possibility in cultured meat production One of the main selling points of cultured meat is its lower environmental impact compared to standard meat production. One way to lower energy consumption even further is by using the so-called “waste heat” coming from other industries (or vice versa having another industry using the waste heat produced by the cultured meat process). Which type of industry would be the ideal candidate for integrating a culture meat facility and how much energy could potentially be saved? Energy savings should be the main focus but other integration advantages should also be taken into account (e.g. shared utilities equipment, shared wastewater treatment etc.).   Facilitate the development of fermentation facilities by retrofitting existing equipment Fermentation is opening the door to endless possibilities to ensure food availability and safety in a sustainable way by overcoming geographical and climate challenges. However, building a facility for the production of novel food requires a remarkable investment both in funds and time. One way to boost sustainability even further, lower investment costs and avoid long lead items is by retrofitting dismantled equipment from other industries and possibly adapt the process to the available equipment. The focus of the task is on bioreactors for microalgae production. What industry could possibly have similar requirements that could be retrofitted for this scope? The battery limit is the bioreactor itself, think of what can’t be changed from a physical point of view (e.g. max operating pressure and temperature, heating and cooling requirement, H/D ratio, total volume, sterility within the vessel, etc.).     provided by BayWa Texture improvement for meat alternatives based on protein flours or concentrates The firmness of texturants (HMES or TVP) for meat alternatives is highly dependent on the protein content of the texturised blend. The higher the protein content, the firmer the fibre structure. On the other hand, the trend in the production of vegetable protein ingredients is towards less water and energy intensive processes, such as mechanical de-oiling of oilseeds or dry fractionation of starch legumes. However, the disadvantage of the resulting protein ingredients is that their protein content is significantly lower than that of wet-chemically produced isolates. What process, technological or recipe steps can be used to achieve adequate mouthfeel (fibrous structure, firm bite) with these protein ingredients?  Allergen-free alternatives for nut-based dairy applications In addition to oats and soy, nuts such as almonds and cashews are often used as a source of vegetable protein in the dairy alternative sector. On the one hand, the production of these raw materials is very irrigation-intensive and on the other hand, nuts are not edible for many consumers due to allergens. However, the advantages of these ingredients are their color and the neutral to slightly nutty taste. What allergen-free plant-based raw materials with similar functional and technological properties could be considered as alternatives for these applications?    provided by Umami Bioworks Edible polymer biomaterials for culturing fish stem cells Controlling cell behaviour such as adhesion, orientation, proliferation, and differentiation is important in cultivated meat production. The extracellular matrix (ECM) predominately determines these cellular behaviours in vivo  and for the best results in vitro , strategies to provide a microenvironment that closely mimics the ECM are needed. One such strategy is using microcarriers made of edible, biodegradable polymers as scaffolds for cell culture. These polymer biomaterials must possess the appropriate scientific characteristics, be scalable and commercially feasible to manufacture, fulfil regulatory standards, and potentially even impart desirable nutritional and sensory attributes to the finished product. Can you curate a list of edible polymer biomaterials with suitable physical attributes, such as stiffness and porosity, that can be used to culture fish stem cells for cultivated seafood?  Alternate bioreactor modalities and designs for scalable and efficient cell cultures Cultivated meat production needs a specialized bioreactor design optimized for efficient, scalable and high-density cell cultures. The commonly used stirred tank reactors (STRs) adopted from the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors are not fit for purpose and do not offer an efficient approach for producing cultivated meat at large scales. Instead of reinventing bioreactors, which can be a resource-intensive and time-consuming endeavour, a pragmatic approach to tackling this challenge entails leveraging features and modalities from diverse existing bioreactor designs across different manufacturing industries. This can be done by identifying compatible elements such as hardware materials, impeller designs, sensors, spargers, and control systems from various existing bioreactor designs. Can you think of alternate modalities to STRs or novel bioreactor design concepts that can cater to the unique requirements of cultivated meat production and be cost-effective as manufacturing is scaled up?   Who can participate in the hackathon? Students (undergraduate and postgraduate) with a background in the life sciences, biomedical science & biotechnology, chemistry & chemical engineering, food science & technology, computer science & machine learning, business development & management Participants from Singapore and Europe across diverse disciplines will be grouped into teams Join Good Food Institute APAC & Europe collaborating with TUM Venture Lab FAB to explore alternative protein solutions and ignite your inner entrepreneur!   Any questions or comments? Reach out to us!   The deadline for applications is 15 May.

The Global Sustainability Challenge is an unparalleled opportunity for students to harness their talents for building a more sustainable future. Design, implement, and test your most creative solutions in the real world.

For three days, you will learn about nature-based solutions, work with peers from different disciplines and campuses to tackle complex challenges as a team - with bionics. The challenge is open to all fields of study.  Apply until April 7th! Successful applicants will be invited to a 1.5h online matchmaking event at 3 p.m. on 18 April. What is bionics or biomimicry? Biomimicry is the study of nature's models and systems to solve problems. It seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature's strategies. This can include looking at the structure, function, and behavior of living organisms, as well as entire ecosystems, to inspire new technologies, products, and designs.  You can choose the challenge that best fits your interest - and get inspired by nature! Challenges Waste-to-Value Natural systems know no waste - everything is a valuable input material to be broken down and reabsorbed in an infinite loop. Although part of this natural system, humans are the only species producing non-digestible waste. Additive manufacturing (AM) offers unique possibilities in bringing the ecological and technological worlds closer together to ultimately move away from a “take-make-waste” economy. Now it is your challenge to find economically viable ways that AM can bring these two worlds closer together in the manufacturing world via novel bio-inspired materials, processes, and products.   Edible Packaging  by Dr. Oetker Millions of frozen pizzas are produced every day! Even though the PE film that keeps them fresh is recyclable, it would be much better if there were no film at all. What could a waterproof, edible packaging for such a product look like? Find nature-based inspiration to develop a sustainable, edible, and maybe also delicious packaging (film) for moist foods such as pizza.    Water Water is essential for life and shapes ecosystems, cultures, and economies. Alarmingly, it's becoming scarcer due to overuse and the impacts of climate change, affecting agriculture, industry, and everyday human needs. Altered precipitation patterns lead to droughts and floods, calling for new approaches in its management and conversation. Your challenge is to find biomimetic solutions for water filtration, collection, and management.   Fibers  Fibers to Value by BayWa In the food industry, fibers (pea hulls, pulps...) are produced during the processing of proteins or starches. As the industry grows, there will be a surplus of side streams that will decrease the value chain's value. What else could upcycling of these side streams look like? Are there models in nature that use the main ingredients of the fibers? What technologies could be developed from them? Your challenge is to explore yellow peas' use cases!   Fibers in Textiles In textiles and fashion, the need for sustainability and innovation is increasingly pressing. Though functional, traditional manufacturing processes and materials often exact a high environmental toll through water and energy consumption, pollution, and waste. The fashion industry bears a notorious environmental footprint, significantly contributing to global emissions and landfill waste. Your challenge: draw inspiration from biomimicry to develop novel textile and fiber concepts for fashion and industry that advance the sector’s strides towards sustainability.     Reinventing the Wheel The wheel, a timeless invention, needs a 21st-century update. Modern tires, mostly from non-renewable fossil fuels, bring environmental challenges like resource depletion and pollution. They release microplastics and worsen waste disposal issues. A biomimicry-inspired approach offers sustainable innovation in wheel design and manufacturing. Your challenge: envision the 21st-century biomimicry wheel and a moonshot business model for it.   Open track Are you the kind of person who feels a tingling sensation of excitement when staring at a blank piece of paper? Is your favorite rule that there are no rules? Then you're the perfect candidate to apply for the open track, where you and your group of like-minded colour-outside-the-lines pioneers will have no boundaries in what challenge to tackle - you will set it yourselves. Elevate biomimicry to the next level and stare into the abyss until it stares back!

Join us in a thrilling event where the brightest minds in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) come together to innovate and collaborate.  From November 22-24, 2024, experience a weekend filled with creative problem-solving, hands-on workshops, and opportunities to network with top professionals and enthusiasts from around the globe. The last hackathon in Zurich from our event partner opensource.construction was a huge success with over 250 attendees, and we are excited to bring the same energy and innovation to Munich and the TUM Venture Labs.  Whether you're a passionate student or a seasoned professional this hackathon is your chance to shape the future of the AEC industry. Public Keynotes, tech talks, regular networking breaks and a variety of workspaces ensure a unique atmosphere. All this makes our hackathon an ideal innovation, networking and collaboration event. Event Agenda Day 1: November 22 16:00 – 17:00: Registration and Welcome 17:00 – 18:00: Keynote Speeches 18:00 – 21:00: Team Formation and Brainstorming Sessions   Day 2: November 23 09:00 – 12:00: Hacking and Workshops 12:00 – 13:00: Lunch Break 13:00 – 18:00: Tech-Talks & Hacking 18:00 – 20:00: Dinner and Networking   Day 3: November 24 09:00 – 12:00: Final Hacking Session 12:00 – 13:00: Lunch Break 13:00 – 16:00: Project Presentations and Judging 16:00 – 17:00: Award Ceremony 17:00 – 18:00: Closing Remarks and Networking Participation for TUM students is also possible in this semester (3 ECTS): Please register via TUM Online: TUM Chair of Architectural Informatics (Prof. Petzold): 0000005541, Fast Track Design Method For all other participants Tickets are available via Eventbrite:  https://www.eventbrite.de/e/aec-hackathon-munich-edition-tickets-953378860837

On the Frontline, every line of code can decide between life and death. Your idea can change everything. Join Munich as the leading Defense Hub in Europe. This Hackathon is for builders. Prove your work.

Munich's most entrepreneurial hackathon

Time to Accelerate European Defense Innovation ​The mission continues: at the same time as the Munich Security Conference, we'll be organizing once again Europe's largest defense tech hackathon: ​​Join us and 200+ hackers from all across Europe and beyond for the third edition of the European Defense Tech Hackathon on February 13-16, 2025, in Munich.   Goal We want to bridge the gaps between technologists, the public sector, investors, and operators in dual-use and defense technology. This hackathon will demonstrate the talent and drive of the European ecosystem. ​​​Get inspired by the challenges we have prepared, or feel free to bring your own project. You'll get feedback from folks who have been on the frontline to ensure you're solving real problems. ​​Our goal with the hackathon is to put you in a position to continue towards deployment.

Explore the future of health at HPI in Potsdam. Join motivated students for two days of innovation, workshops, and collaboration with top-notch sponsors offering support and expertise. Tackle a challenge and dive into the world of health.

Unleash your creativity and solve real world problems of Software-as-Medical-Device (SaMD) development with technology. This is your chance to test our new AI Innovation Platform and be part of envisioning life changing new features. All geared toward catalyzing the healthcare transformation with AI. Test and code alongside Bayers Lead data scientists, make new connections, have a blast coding with your friends. At the Bayer AI Innovation Platform Hackathon, you will have 20 hours to test our platform, trying to break the system and dreaming about new functionality with all the resources and support you need to make it happen.

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and innovators around the world to come together and use open data from NASA and its Space Agency Partners to create solutions to challenges we face on Earth and in space.

a MakerSpace membership and the corresponding machine course certification

innovative AI solutions on real-world business cases presented by industry leaders.

You have 30 hours to shape the next space mission. Open to space engineers, space enthusiasts, and visionary thinkers from any field. No prior knowledge required.