The University of Latvia invites European teams to participate in EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2026 Latvia

From 15 to 17 October 2026, the European Commission’s EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) international defence innovation hackathon “Defence Hackathon 2026 Latvia” will take place at the University of Latvia (UL) in Riga, bringing together startups, researchers, engineers, and technology developers.

This autumn’s hackathon will focus on the central theme “Autonomy on the Battlefield”, addressing autonomous systems and robotics solutions for air, land, maritime, and space environments. Participants will work on three challenges – navigation in environments without a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal, coordination of next-generation autonomous systems and the development of autonomous reconnaissance and logistics solutions, as well as the creation of an autonomous border defence shield capable of detecting, classifying, and prioritising low-flying threats. These challenges have been designed to foster the development of practical, scalable defence and dual-use technologies that can be deployed in real-world conditions.

“Today’s security challenges require not only modern weaponry, but also the ability to rapidly develop and implement new technologies. The Defence Innovation Hackathon is an opportunity for researchers and entrepreneurs to work together with defence sector experts to create practical solutions that will strengthen Latvia’s and Europe’s defence capabilities,” emphasises Minister of Defence Raivis Melnis.

Over two and a half days, participants will collaborate with defence sector experts, industry representatives, and mentors to validate their solutions, refine their application in real-world situations, and prepare them for further development. In addition to intensive work on improving their prototypes, participants will take part in lectures and practical workshops. At the conclusion of the hackathon, teams will present their solutions to a jury, competing for a prize fund of €10,000, of which €5,000 for the further development of a product or service is provided by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).

Investment and Development Agency of Latvia Director Ieva Jāgere notes: “The European defence industry is currently experiencing some of the fastest changes seen in recent decades. Whereas technology development cycles were previously planned over several years, today the pace of innovation has become much faster – requirements change along with the situation, and solutions must be continuously improved. Competitiveness is increasingly determined by the ability to quickly test ideas in practice, receive expert feedback, and adapt technologies to real needs. Hackathons provide precisely this kind of approach. They develop the ability to work in an environment where decisions must be made quickly and technologies must be continuously improved. At the same time, they foster cooperation between entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and defence sector experts, creating an environment in which new teams, companies, and dual-use technologies emerge. These qualities and this model of cooperation are becoming one of the foundations of the competitiveness of European defence technologies.”

Hackathon participants will have access to the UL OpenLab infrastructure for developing and improving prototypes. The hackathon partners will also provide specialised testing opportunities for developers of autonomous systems and defence technologies. In cooperation with GDA Baltic, teams will have access to support for testing unmanned aerial vehicle solutions, using FPV (first-person view) systems and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as expert consultations on counter-drone systems and electronic warfare solutions. Certain solutions will be able to be tested in specially created environments in Kuldīga and on Dole Island. LMT Defence, meanwhile, will provide access to specialised testing environments where solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence, IoT, 5G/6G technologies, mobility, smart cities, drones, and defence technologies can be validated.

“Latvijas Universitāte is a place where scientific excellence, technological development, and international cooperation create solutions with practical impact. For innovation to emerge, cooperation between researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, and the public sector is essential. EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2026 Latvia demonstrates that universities can be not only creators of knowledge, but also a platform where next-generation technologies are developed and new partnerships are formed,” emphasises Enno Ence, Vice-Rector for Development at the University of Latvia.

Teams of at least two members are invited to participate in the hackathon. They must already have a developed MVP, prototype, or validated concept and wish to develop their solution in the field of defence and dual-use technologies. Team members must be at least 18 years old and be citizens of European Union Member States, Norway, or Ukraine.

The EUDIS Defence Hackathon is a European Commission initiative aimed at promoting innovation in the defence sector by bringing together the most talented entrepreneurs, researchers, engineers, and technology developers from across Europe to address shared challenges in defence, cybersecurity, and resilience. The hackathon gives participants the opportunity to collaborate with industry experts, work on real defence needs, and develop innovative solutions that strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities.

More information about the hackathon, challenges, and registration is available on the EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2026 Latvia website.

The event is implemented within the project “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship for SMEs”, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Union.