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- 🚨 November Hackathons: Copenhagen, Munich, Almere & Paris
🚨 November Hackathons: Copenhagen, Munich, Almere & Paris
Fostering Defense Innovation for European Sovereignty
Fynn van Rießen & Benjamin Wolba
October 21, 2026
Hey everybody,
This November, we're hosting hackathons in Copenhagen and Munich on November 6–8. Almere follows on November 13–15, then Paris and Prishtina (Kosovo) on November 20–22.
Copenhagen is part of Danish Defense Tech Week, which we're co-organizing with Defense Innovation Highway on November 5–12. The program includes the Sovereign Compute Meetup, our Copenhagen hackathon, and four meetups across Denmark.
This weekend, October 23–25, we're hosting the Critical Infrastructure Shield Hackathon in Winterthur. Our first EDTH meetup in Spain is in Valencia on November 4, with local introductions for teams looking to open an office or grow their team there.
If you're building in defense, take this five-minute survey and tell EDTH and EY what you need to grow.
Across the community and ecosystem:
Apply by November 2 for Village by CA's dual-use program, open to startups in France, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Ukrainian companies working on AI for defense can apply to join the Adopt AI delegation in Paris on December 3–4.
October 22: Cap Vista Solicitation 6.0 closes, with funded trial opportunities for selected applicants.
October 30: Applications close for Defence Builder's next accelerator batch, open to teams with a working prototype.
🇩🇰 Danish Defense Tech Week | November 5–12
We're hosting Danish Defense Tech Week together with Defense Innovation Highway: six events across Denmark, including the Sovereign Compute Meetup, our Copenhagen hackathon and four regional meetups.
November 6–8 | Copenhagen Defense Tech Hackathon
Our third Copenhagen hackathon takes place at DTU, hosted by the Danish Chips Competence Centre. Challenges cover passive detection, uncrewed surface vessels, and protecting undersea cables and pipelines.
Synteza AI, Fire Point, and STAND are joining us.
November 5 | Sovereign Compute Meetup
We're hosting a meetup for semiconductor companies and defense teams in Copenhagen, 15:00–18:00, to discuss European computing hardware for defense:
November 9–12 | Across Denmark
Defense Innovation Highway is hosting four meetups after the hackathon:
November 9, Aalborg: Electronic warfare
November 10, Aarhus: Cybersecurity and next-generation drones
November 11, Odense: Autonomous defense systems
November 12, Copenhagen: AI and autonomy
🇨🇭 Winterthur | Critical Infrastructure Shield Hackathon | October 23–25
We're hosting the Critical Infrastructure Shield Hackathon at Vitus-Areal, with support from armasuisse, EY Switzerland, CDDS, Laelaps AI, and PHYLAX.
We'll work on counter-drone systems, autonomous surveillance, and resilient communications for critical infrastructure. EDTH Community members can join Sunday's Demo Day.
🇩🇪 Munich | Defense Tech Hackathon | November 6–8
We're co-organizing this hackathon with the Media for Peace project at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich. The focus is on OSINT and countering disinformation. Apply for the Munich hackathon
Before the hackathon starts on Friday evening, join the Media for Peace Showcase from 9:00 to 17:00 for a prototype expo, science slam, and live information crisis simulation. Register for the Showcase
🇳🇱 Almere | Defense Tech Hackathon | November 13–15
We're coming to Almere, near Amsterdam, hosted by the TechConnect Almere community. The challenges focus on maritime and North Sea security, counter-drone systems and resilient communications.
Trusk Technology, which emerged from our Amsterdam hackathon last year, is returning as a partner alongside MANTAVIA.
🇫🇷 Paris | Defense Tech Hackathon | November 20–22
We're co-organizing our next Paris hackathon with the team behind the Adopt AI Summit, with challenges on counter-drone systems, sensor fusion, resilient communications and autonomy.
More Hackathons
🇪🇸 Our First EDTH Meetup in Spain | November 4
On November 4, we're bringing the European Defense Tech Meetup to Valencia, our first-ever event in Spain, together with Voltrac and Startup Grind Valencia 🦾
One evening with defense innovators, founders, VCs, and industry experts:
Kick-off by EDTH, Voltrac, and Startup Grind
Openä-mic: pitch your startup in 3 minutes
Networking with the people building defense tech in Spain and beyond
Join the meetup, and we'll set you up with a day of warm introductions to local founders and people who can help you get established, plus a VC breakfast on November 5.
One more thing: we're planning a European Defense Tech Hackathon in Spain for 2027 — talk to Philipp about it at the meetup!
Across the Defense Tech Ecosystem
EDTH and EY Startup Survey
EDTH and EY want to hear what you need to grow, where your product stands, and which customers you're speaking to.
The form takes about five minutes and helps us connect you to the right people and opportunities, whether you need funding, talent, manufacturing support or market access.
Village by CA Dual Use Call
Apply by November 2
Village by CA is accepting applications from startups developing technologies with civilian and defense uses, including AI, cybersecurity, drones, communications and energy.
The call is open to startups based in France, Italy, Belgium or Luxembourg that are not already supported by a Village. Selected companies can access industry partners, investors and business support, with a networking day in Paris on December 7. The support program costs €300 per month; office space is arranged separately.
Ukrainian AI for Defence Delegation
Adopt AI | Paris | December 3–4
ISKRA Partners and Kharkiv IT Cluster are selecting Ukrainian companies developing AI-enabled defense and dual-use technologies for a delegation to Adopt AI at the Grand Palais.
The delegation will meet French and European industrial groups, investors and potential partners. The organizers review each application and will reply with availability and pricing.
Two Application Deadlines Coming Up
Cap Vista Solicitation 6.0: Applications close on October 22 at 13:00 Singapore time. Selected applicants can receive funded trials with end users. Explore the challenges
Defence Builder Batch 4.0: Applications close on October 30 for the four-month accelerator, open globally to teams with a working prototype at TRL 4 or above. Explore the program and apply
From the Community
Seoul: Watch the aftermovie from the Korean Defense Tech Hackathon with D4D, the final stop of our Asia tour. Watch the Seoul aftermovie
Strausberg: Go inside our first European Defense Tech Festival, where 550+ attendees came together for a trade exhibition and 30+ live flight demos. We'll be back on August 25–27, 2027. Watch the festival video
Join the EDTH Community to visit our hackathon Demo Days and take part in other community events. See you at the next one!