Registration: Opens on April 14 and closes on May 12.
Date and Time: June 12, 2025, 17:30 – June 15, 2025, 18:00
Location: Estonian Business School, A. Lauteri 3, Tallinn
Language: English
For more information and registration, visit the event website.
What to expect:
- A 72-hour intensive development sprint
- Experts from the military sector including the Ministry of Defence, the Estonian Defence Forces, the Defence League, and the defence industry collaborating with experts from the civilian sector, including universities, colleges, and tech companies
- Cross-sector collaboration focused on creating and advancing AI-based solutions to make defence processes faster, more efficient, and more reliable.
Participant profile:
- Aged 18 or over
- Join solo or with an existing team
- Participants from diverse backgrounds are welcome: entrepreneurs, researchers, students, military personnel, members of the Defence League, reservists, and other defence professionals
- A strong interest in AI and solving critical challenges in national defence is essential.
Purpose:
The goal of the hackathon is to give you the opportunity to further develop your idea or technology and apply it in real-world scenarios. Over the course of this 72-hour intensive development sprint, experts from both the defence sector—including the Ministry of Defence, Estonian Defence Forces, the Estonian Defence League and defence companies —and the civilian sector—including universities, colleges, and IT companies—will come together to create and advance AI-based solutions which make defence-related processes faster, more efficient, and more reliable.
The programme concludes with a pitch session, where participants present their ideas and receive feedback from leading experts in defence, artificial intelligence and business development.
For more information and registration, visit the event website.
Why Participate?
If you already have an innovative idea to address defence and security challenges and/or are ready to develop one with the help of experienced mentors to find real-world applications and opportunities — then this program is for you!
- Innovation and Collaboration: A unique opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers, IT companies and defence experts.
- Tackling Real-World Challenges: Contribute to the development of intelligent systems, enhance situational awareness and decision-making speed, support media monitoring, and promote the responsible use of AI.
- Hands-On Experience and Mentorship: Gain practical experience working with experts in AI, cybersecurity, and defence technology. Receive valuable feedback and compete for prizes.
- Motivation and Support: Enjoy full support including catering, workspace, and technical assistance throughout the event.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with key contacts and access resources to turn your idea into a real-world solution.
- Awards: Top teams selected by a panel of experts will receive prizes to continue developing their solutions after the hackathon.
Participation in the prestigious DarkStar Defence Tech Hackathon 2025, taking place in Ukraine (subject to the selected solution meeting eligibility criteria)
Direct access to the exclusive Defence Business Lab 2026. An innovation hub designed to accelerate groundbreaking ideas.
Challenges?
The event also explores broader defence-related issues, such as solutions for social media and media monitoring; responsible and dual-use technology development; transparency and interpretability of AI systems. Participants are welcome to bring their own ideas or work on one of the proposed development challenges, including:
- Enhancing the processing of intelligence data and accelerating decision-making
- Automating target identification with smart sensors
- Advancing electronic warfare and communications
- Strengthening cybersecurity and countering information operations
- Improving mobility through robotics and autonomous vehicles
- Enabling data-driven logistics and capability planning
Hackathon organiser: Ministry of Defence in cooperation with EBS.
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