CASSINI Hackathon returns to the Netherlands: a starting point for new skills, projects, and opportunities
- HACKATHONS
Kacia Rutkoŭskaja
- 0
- 7 minutes read
From 24 to 26 April 2026, the CASSINI Hackathon will take place at CometLab on NL Space Campus in Noordwijk, inviting students, developers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and early-stage teams to explore what they can build using European satellite technologies.
Participants will receive practical introductions to Copernicus Earth observation data, Galileo navigation, and EGNOS, and work in teams to develop their own ideas. Mentors from organisations including dotSPACE, NL Space Campus, Rijkswaterstaat, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Netherlands Space Office (NSO), InnovationQuarter, Water Insight, SBIC Noordwijk, Unmanned Valley, and S[&]T will support teams throughout the weekend.
The hackathon is designed not only as a weekend experience, but as a gateway into the wider space and innovation ecosystem. Participants gain practical skills, meet collaborators and mentors, and unlock opportunities to continue developing their ideas afterwards.
Participation is free, and no prior space experience is required.
Three challenges focused on water
This edition focuses on how space technologies can support water management and environmental monitoring. Participants will develop solutions addressing:
- Securing equitable and efficient access to water: Use satellite data to monitor water availability and support resource management.
- Tracking and preventing water pollution: Explore how Earth observation can detect and monitor environmental impacts.
- Disaster risk monitoring: Develop tools that support flood monitoring and early warning systems.
Teams will have access to datasets, technical guidance, and a prototyping environment at CometLab, located at NL Space Campus.
Prizes, mentoring, and follow-up opportunities
The winning team in the Netherlands will receive a €3,000 cash prize, introductions to incubation programmes such as ESA BIC, Unmanned Valley, Buccaneer, and Startup in Residence, a pitch opportunity at NL Space Campus, and media exposure. The runner-up team will receive €1,000.
Local winners will also advance to the European CASSINI competition, where teams can receive prizes of €5,000, €3,000, and €1,000, along with six months of expert mentoring.
All local participants will be invited to showcase their solutions through the dotSPACE Open Data Lab and stay connected with ecosystem partners.
Following the event, all teams will be contacted with introductions to follow-up programmes and continued guidance from hackathon partners. Selected teams may receive support through workshops, mentoring, and connections with organisations such as NL Space Campus and dotSPACE — and for projects with strong potential, this can lead to longer-term development with these partners.
Participants will also be informed about the upcoming FIERCE Hackathon, expected to take place from 1–3 October at CometLab. Focused on the green and digital transition — with continued attention to water and space applications — FIERCE is aimed at teams that have reached an initial level of maturity (around TRL 4–5) and are ready to take their solutions further. Selected projects may be supported through a dedicated funding and support programme beyond the initial hackathon phase.
Open to all backgrounds: join Cassini Hackathon now!
Participants can join individually or as part of a team. The hackathon is open to students, early-career professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs interested in gaining hands-on experience and exploring new ideas.
Hosted at CometLab on NL Space Campus, the event offers direct access to mentors, tools, and organisations working at the intersection of space technology and real-world applications.
Featured Image credit: Dave Chapman
