Join 3 days of immersive Hackathon at ESA ESOC in Darmstadt!

ESA invites you to a 3-day immersive hackathon at the ESA ESOC site in Darmstadt, where multidisciplinary teams will collaborate to create innovative solutions using space weather data to support spacecraft operations.

• Dates: 23-25 June 2025
• Location: ESA ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
• Eligibility: Open to Master’s or Ph.D. students and early-career professionals (up to 3 years of work experience), aged 18 or older, from ESA Member States, Associate Members, or Canada.
• Application deadline: 10 June 2025, 23:59 CEST

Please note that applying for ESA Acceleration Days does not confirm your participation. Once the application period closes, selected participants will receive a confirmation of their participation.

The context

This hackathon is a fast-paced event where teams collaborate to develop innovative solutions. In the context of space weather resilience, it leverages newly available near real-time space weather data to create tools that enhance the safety of spacecraft and critical infrastructure. Participants will work together to turn data into actionable solutions for space operations.

Acceleration challenge

In an era where data-driven innovation is reshaping global markets, leveraging space weather data offers unprecedented opportunities. We are calling on young innovators to harness the power of space weather data to develop bold, scalable solutions that:

• Provide timely and accurate information on space weather risks for spacecraft operations
• Optimise space weather nowcasts and forecasts for operational use cases
• Improve post event analysis to help operators prevent future disruptions

From predictive models to advanced monitoring and analysis platforms – if your idea leverages space weather data to make spacecraft operations safer and more reliable, we want to see it.

Participants will work on a real-time, real-world use case co-designed with ESA’s Space Weather Office, targeting issues that matter to the space community.

You bring your curiosity and ideas, together we develop them into pitchable concepts at the end of the hackathon.

Who can participate

ESA welcomes applications from Master or Ph.D. students and early career professionals with a passion for space and innovation. This hackathon is designed for driven individuals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Applicants must have a collaborative mindset and a strong drive to tackle real-world challenges. You must apply individually, but you have the option to identify up to two preferred contacts to team up with during the event. All participants must be 18 years or older and hold the nationality of an ESA Member State, Associate Member, or Canada. We strongly encourage diversity and inclusion, aiming to bring together a balanced mix of genders, experiences, and perspectives to foster innovative solutions.

Selection process and evaluation criteria

You apply as an individual, not as a pre-formed team. During application, you will provide details about your academic and/or professional background, your motivation, and your skills. Based on this information, the ESA Acceleration Days Team will form diverse, multidisciplinary teams before the event. We carefully match participants to ensure each team combines technical, strategic, and creative strengths, maximising collaboration and innovation throughout the hackathon.

At the end of the hackathon, each team will pitch their solution to a jury composed of experts and end-users. Solutions will be assessed on three key criteria:

• innovation and creativity,
• relevance and potential impact for the end-user challenge,
• quality of teamwork, and how effectively teams used the tools, data, and mentoring available during the hackathon.

It is not just what you build, it is how you work together and solve real problems.

We are looking for curious minds from all fields. You can apply if you are a student or have less than three years of work experience. All academic and professional backgrounds are welcome. We want a mix of tech, policy, legal, design, and communication profiles. Space weather knowledge is a plus but not required. What matters most is your motivation to learn, collaborate, and innovate.

To participate in the ESA Acceleration Days, follow these steps: 

1. Apply via EUSurvey: Visit the specific event webpage and click on the application link provided in this page.
2. Complete the Application Form: Fill in your personal details, professional background, and explain your motivation for joining the event. 
3. Application Specifics: You can only apply individually. However, you have the option to indicate up to two other candidates you know and wish to team up with by entering their email addresses in the application form.
4. Application Review: After submitting your application form, it will undergo a review process. Submission does not guarantee participation. We will evaluate your application and notify you of your application status. If your application is approved, you will receive an email with the final confirmation of participation.

Costs, accommodation and travel

• There are no application or participation fees for this event.
• Participants are kindly requested to arrange their own accommodation and travel. Once selected, participants will receive further information and guidance for the event.
• The ESA Education Office is pleased to sponsor the travel and accommodation of a select number of students. Find out more details below on how to apply for the sponsorship.

Programme

The Space weather resilience hackathon is an onsite-only event and participant should commit to being present at ESA ESOC for the full duration of the event.

Participants are expected to arrive at the ESA ESOC site at 3:00 PM on the 23rd of June. The hackathon will run until 5:00 PM on the 25th of June. The event will begin with an opening session and team formation on the first day, followed by the official start of the hack. On the second day, teams will focus on developing their solutions. The final day will be dedicated to polishing the projects, presenting team pitches, and concluding with a closing ceremony. Selected participants will receive more detailed information about the agenda ahead of the event.

Deadlines & application submission

After the application period ends, selected participants will receive a confirmation of their participation. However, as there is only limited capacity and applications may close earlier. So do not hesitate and secure your spot now.

ESA Academy Sponsorship: calling all students

The ESA Education Office is pleased to sponsor up to 5 tertiary education students to attend ESA Space Weather Hackathon 2025 in the frame of the ESA Academy’s Engagement programme. The sponsorship will provide a maximum reimbursement of EUR 350 towards travel and EUR 225 toward accommodation expenses (for 3 nights), which will be reimbursed via a single bank transfer after the hackathon and will be paid upon submission of receipts.

To be eligible for an ESA Academy sponsorship, students must fulfil the following criteria at the time of application:

• be minimum 18 years old at the time of the hackathon;
• be a citizen of an ESA Member State, Associate Member, or Canada;
• be enrolled as a student (MSc, or Ph.D.) in a tertiary education academic programme (not graduating before the hackathon);
• not benefit from an overlapping financial support to attend this hackathon, unless duly justified;
• attend the entire hackathon;
• agree with the conditions of the ESA Academy’s Privacy Policy.

Priority will be given to students who have less than 2 years of professional experience and have never taken part in an activity sponsored by the ESA Education Office.

Click to fill-in the application form and apply for the ESA Academy Sponsorship.

The deadline for applications is 10 June 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

The decision by the Selection Committee will be communicated before the event.

ESA is committed to achieving diversity and creating an inclusive environment. To this end, applications from all eligible candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability, social origin, or other characteristics are welcome.

Supported by

Prizes

The winning team will get the opportunity to pitch their idea at the European Space Weather Week which will take place in Umea, Sweden from October 27 to 31, 2025. The European Space Weather Week is a major, impactful event that attracts annually over 500 participants from diverse sectors around the world, including academia, industry and governmental agencies. Make your hackathon experience even greater by gaining the opportunity to network and connect with likeminded individuals!