More than 130 participants, including 60 innovators from several European countries, gathered in Soave and Roncà (Verona) from 15 to 17 October for the EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2026, a European Commission initiative under the European Defence Fund, organised in Italy by Fondazione SAFE. The EUDIS Defence Hackathon took place simultaneously in eight European countries: Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal and Sweden, fostering collaboration between research, industry and innovators. This edition’s theme, “Autonomy on the Battlefield”, guided the development of technological solutions for satellite-signal-denied navigation, autonomous systems coordination and counter-drone capabilities.
The event fostered dialogue between operational needs and technological innovation, bringing together representatives from the Italian Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces, experts, companies and research centres. The autumn edition of the Hackathon brought together operational personnel who helped present real-world challenges, providing teams with practical insights to develop solutions tailored to end users’ needs.
The participation of leading companies in the sector, including Leonardo Elettronica and MBDA, enabled innovators to explore how emerging technologies can be integrated into future weapon systems, while addressing key issues such as interoperability and system integration. This exchange was essential to understanding how prototypes and ideas can be transformed into practical, deployable solutions.
One of the initiative’s key highlights was the participation of a delegation from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which shared field experience and operational needs, helping guide participants’ work towards real-world challenges. The Ukrainian representatives reported that, based on their experience of the Russo-Ukrainian war, drones are currently responsible for 92% of casualties. They cited this figure to highlight the changing nature of the battlefield and the urgent need to develop new technological solutions.
“Our goal is to bring innovators closer to operational realities, giving them the opportunity to engage with concrete needs and test their ideas in an environment dedicated to experimentation,” said Andrea D’Angelo, President of Fondazione SAFE.
The hackathon took place at the Calvarina Testing & Training Area, managed by SAFE and a NATO DIANA Test Centre since 2023. The facility provides a dedicated environment for training and the validation of innovative technologies.
Through this initiative, Fondazione SAFE reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the links between research, industry and end users, contributing to the development of innovative, interoperable technologies capable of meeting Europe’s security and defence needs.