27 - 29 November
Gabrovo
On-site
Join the Hackathon in Gabrovo!
Are you ready to meet your co-founders? Over an intensive 48 hours, you’ll learn how to use space data and develop a bold solution to support safety and security in Europe. Welcome to the Hackathon.
This year, we host the 12th CASSINI Hackathon funded by EUSPA, and this edition is all about Peace and Resilience in Europe. At the Technical University of Gabrovo, you’ll enjoy a programme combining expert mentoring with pitch training and networking events.
Registration is completely free. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from national experts in defence, satellite data and aerospace research. Ahead of the weekend, watch our online training sessions and learn how to access EU space data from Copernicus, Galileo and EGNOS. Then connect with like-minded team members and develop a solution for the chance to win cash prizes and mentoring.
- Cybersecurity for space-based strategic enablers
- Space-enabled crisis response and civil resilience
- Countering transnational crime and terrorism with space data
⭐You don’t need any previous experience – you’ll receive the trainings and tools you need to utilise EU space data and successfully develop and pitch your business model.
⭐You can join as a team or an individual – we’ll connect you with professionals to form a multi-skilled team.
⭐ You don’t have to be a coding specialist – the best teams contain people with different backgrounds.
Local prizes:
In Bulgaria, our top three teams will win:
- 1st place: €1,500
- 2nd place: €1,000
- 3rd place: €500
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.
The Bulgarian space sector is emerging, supported by national and EU initiatives: a recent study showed that more than 500 companies have experience in space-related activity.
Support from the Bulgarian Defence Institute will ensure that our participants can access high-level insight and produce solutions that address national priorities.
Join the Hackathon to learn from military and space data experts and create your own, relevant solution for Bulgarian defence and security.
The Big Ideas Campaign is that moment of the year when the energy starts building across Europe, when hackers, innovators, and curious minds begin to feel that something exciting is coming.
It’s more than just a countdown to the CASSINI Hackathon: it’s the first step into the experience itself.
During this phase, participants are invited to dive deeper into the themes, challenges, and tools that will shape the Hackathon journey. It’s the perfect opportunity to get informed, get inspired, and start thinking in the right direction: from understanding the challenge areas to exploring key space technologies like Copernicus Programme and Galileo navigation system.
Beyond inspiration, the Big Ideas Campaign also helps participants get practically prepared. From logistics and timelines to challenge insights and team preparation, everything is designed to ensure that when the Hackathon begins, everyone can focus on what matters most: building impactful solutions.
Leveraging EU Space Data for Cybersecurity, Crisis Response, and Border Security
The session will provide participants with a comprehensive overview of how EU space programs (Copernicus and Galileo) can be applied to solve all three hackathon challenges. Experts will discuss practical use cases for cybersecurity resilience, using Earth Observation for critical infrastructure monitoring, and leveraging space and navigation data and services to counter transnational crime.
Welcome to CASSINI Bulgaria: Hackathon Practicalities,
Expert Introductions & Matchmaking (Team Formation)
Getting ready for the Hackathon Weekend? This session is designed to help you connect, build your team, and arrive fully prepared to start.
Whether you're joining solo and looking for a team, or you already have an idea and need extra teammates to complete your squad, this is the session for you.
We’ll quickly cover the key practicalities, introduce the mentors who will be supporting you, and help you sort out any platform questions on TAIKAI and Discord.
Most importantly, you’ll have the space to meet fellow participants, discover complementary skills, exchange ideas, and form a multidisciplinary team before the hackathon kicks off.
Looking for a team or missing a teammate? Join us and find your match!
Space data provides us with a new view of the planet. How could it be used to protect our infrastructure and counter crime? A wide range of business, space, and security experts will offer their insights to help you design a bold and relevant solution.
Risk Space Transfer – Technology Transfer Office (RST-TTO) is a joint venture between the Space Research and Technology Institute (SRTI) and the Centre for National Security and Defence Research (CNSDR). Its goal is to raise awareness of Earth Observation technology and promote its applications to sectors like security, emergency management, urban planning, and more.
Having organised six international hackathons, RST-TTO will leverage its network to invite experts from civil and military universities and mentors from the defence sector.
Don’t miss your opportunity to meet key figures in the Bulgarian defence and space sector at the 12th CASSINI Hackathon. Register now.
More partners and sponsors to be announced soon.
Center for National Security and Defense Research - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
