Hackathon format & key facts
Organized detailsOverview
An in-person European defence and dual-use technology hackathon in Riga focused on autonomy on the battlefield.
Complete hackathon details
The Latvia edition runs 15–17 October 2026 at the University of Latvia Academic Centre in Riga. Teams work on GNSS-denied navigation, swarm coordination and an autonomous border shield challenge, with defence experts, mentors and industry representatives. The University of Latvia states that participation is free and teams compete for a €10,000 prize fund. Registration is open through 8 October 2026.
Eligibility requirements
Teams of at least two participants, age 18+, consisting of citizens of EU member states, Norway or Ukraine, with an MVP, prototype or validated concept suitable for defence or dual-use application.
Tips for this hackathon
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Read the rules, eligibility, judging criteria, required technologies and intellectual-property terms before forming your submission plan.
- Build a complementary team early and assign product, engineering, design, research and presentation responsibilities clearly.
- Optimize for the published judging rubric: demonstrate a real problem, working solution, measurable impact and a concise live demo.
- Prepare the repository, pitch deck, demo video and submission links before the final hours so upload or platform problems do not invalidate the entry.
- Check whether travel, finalist presentations, team-size limits or mandatory attendance apply before committing.
Verification notes
University of Latvia official event page verified on 2026-09-01: 15–17 October, Riga Academic Centre, free, teams 2+, age 18+, EU/Norway/Ukraine citizenship, registration through 8 October, €10,000 prize fund. Central EUDIS site also lists Latvia among autumn 2026 locations.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
University of Latvia Innovation and Acceleration Centre ↗