DroneAid Brings Hands-On Drone Expertise to the EUDIS Defence Hackathon Netherlands
- HACKATHONS Ukraine
Martijn Seijger
- 0
- 7 minutes read
When the EUDIS Defence Hackathon takes place at NL Space Campus on 17–19 October, participants will not only develop ideas, prototypes and pitches — they will also gain practical experience. One of the contributors making that possible is DroneAid, a collective that teaches veterans, volunteers, and engineers to build drones and then donates those drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. It is an initiative where skills training, innovation, and real-world application come together.
Opening up the conversation before the hackathon
DroneAid will join the pre-hackathon webinar on 9 October, giving participants a first glimpse into their work. They will share what kind of drones they build, why these drones matter, and how they can be deployed in practice. The team will also present their ongoing R&D activities in UAV and electronic warfare, offering participants valuable context as they prepare for the hackathon challenges.
Register for the webinar on 9 October
Learning by building
At the hackathon itself, DroneAid will bring tools, parts, and plenty of enthusiasm to CometLab for a three-hour workshop on Friday, 17 October. Participants will be able to roll up their sleeves and build a 10-inch FPV drone from twelve basic components, step by step, guided by experienced instructors and a clear manual. For many, this will be the moment when theory turns into practice. And if the weather plays along, those drones may even take off before the hackathon officially begins.
For hackathon participants, four drone kits will be available, allowing up to eight people to join the workshop on a first-come, first-served basis. A registration link will be shared with participants shortly before the hackathon through the official channels.
The workshop is also open to external participants. The contribution is €400 per drone kit, which covers all materials and guidance during the session. External participants can register via this private event link: Luma registration page
More than just a workshop
DroneAid’s contribution goes beyond a one-off activity. Throughout the weekend, their team will be present to mentor, share lessons learned from two years of building drone platforms, and engage with anyone curious about practical applications in defence and aerospace. As part of the hackathon reward package, dotSPACE will provide access for two people from the 1st place team and two people from the 2nd place team to join a DroneAid drone-building workshop in Utrecht.This gives participants an opportunity to continue learning and experimenting even after the hackathon weekend.
Why this matters
Hackathons are known for sparking ideas and new solutions. DroneAid complements this with something tangible: practical skills and real-world applications. Their approach shows how knowledge sharing, practical training, and community effort can complement creative ideas and turn them into tangible outcomes. It also illustrates the strength of the Dutch space and defence ecosystem when contributors from different backgrounds — from students, start-ups, SMEs, to volunteer collectives — bring their expertise to the table.
Supporting DroneAid
DroneAid’s work is entirely volunteer-driven. If you would like to support them, you can:
Join EUDIS Hackathon
EUDIS Defence Hackathon Netherlands takes place from 17–19 October 2025 at NL Space Campus, Noordwijk. Registration is open until 10 October, 09:00 CEST.
