Announcements & News
European Defense Tech Hackathon in London: a new stage in dual-use innovation development
Announcement · 26 June 2026
The European defense technology ecosystem hackathon in London brings together more than 200 engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and experts from across Europe and beyond. The event focuses on creating practical solutions in the field of dual-use technologies and defense innovation that can be developed into real-world applications.
The organizer is EDTH, a community that unites technical specialists, investors, operators, and public sector representatives around a shared goal — accelerating the development of European defense technologies.
The core idea of the event is to shorten the distance between concept and implementation. Participants work on challenges based on real-world problems and receive feedback from practitioners with field experience. This helps avoid incorrect assumptions and ensures an immediate focus on deployable solutions.
The event format includes three types of participants:
• Hackers
engineers and developers who form teams, choose a challenge, and build prototypes over the weekend
• Mentors
experts who support teams by clarifying problems and validating technical approaches
• Visitors
participants who join the Demo Day and explore the results of the teams’ work
The program follows an intensive three-day cycle:
Friday
— opening, networking, team formation
— challenge presentations and project kickoff
Saturday
— continuous development and building
Sunday
— final testing
— project presentations
— awards and networking
The event also runs in parallel across two locations — London and Munich — with live connections between venues, strengthening international collaboration among participants.
For Gnizdo Ltd, such initiatives are an important indicator of the emerging defense innovation market in Europe. Hackathons of this level create an environment where technical teams can rapidly move from concepts to working prototypes, while businesses and institutions identify solutions for real operational needs.
Participation in EDTH also provides access to a broader community of events throughout the year, including demo days, webinars, and thematic networking sessions.
The London hackathon demonstrates a shift in the approach to defense technology development in Europe: from closed R&D processes toward open innovation ecosystems, where speed, collaboration, and practical implementation play a central role.
EDTH Community
The organizer is EDTH, a community that unites technical specialists, investors, operators, and public sector representatives around a shared goal — accelerating the development of European defense technologies.
The core idea of the event is to shorten the distance between concept and implementation. Participants work on challenges based on real-world problems and receive feedback from practitioners with field experience. This helps avoid incorrect assumptions and ensures an immediate focus on deployable solutions.
The event format includes three types of participants:
• Hackers
engineers and developers who form teams, choose a challenge, and build prototypes over the weekend
• Mentors
experts who support teams by clarifying problems and validating technical approaches
• Visitors
participants who join the Demo Day and explore the results of the teams’ work
The program follows an intensive three-day cycle:
Friday
— opening, networking, team formation
— challenge presentations and project kickoff
Saturday
— continuous development and building
Sunday
— final testing
— project presentations
— awards and networking
The event also runs in parallel across two locations — London and Munich — with live connections between venues, strengthening international collaboration among participants.
For Gnizdo Ltd, such initiatives are an important indicator of the emerging defense innovation market in Europe. Hackathons of this level create an environment where technical teams can rapidly move from concepts to working prototypes, while businesses and institutions identify solutions for real operational needs.
Participation in EDTH also provides access to a broader community of events throughout the year, including demo days, webinars, and thematic networking sessions.
The London hackathon demonstrates a shift in the approach to defense technology development in Europe: from closed R&D processes toward open innovation ecosystems, where speed, collaboration, and practical implementation play a central role.
EDTH Community