Digitising Green Spaces is the first of a series of six hackathons focused on using satellite data and signals to spur innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship with space technology. Taking place this weekend 18-20 June 2021, the hackathon encourages participants to develop solutions to global challenges and make a sustainable impact on Earth. Participants will be supported in using EU satellite images and signals to build their solutions.
The event is hosted by the National Space Centre (NSC) in partnership with Munster Technological University (MTU).
Digitising Green Spaces Hackathon
“Hacker is just a term for a person who can apply a skillset to a problem,” explained Dr Niall Smith, Head of Research at MTU. “If you are a have a business idea that’s scalable and has the potential to address a global problem, the Cassini Hackathon will deliver hands-on experience of how the rapidly growing space sector can give you a competitive edge in ways you might not yet imagine.”
The competition is open to anyone over 18 including students, startups, businesses and people or organisations with a challenge that can be addressed with satellite data. The Irish organisers are preparing to welcome people from computer science, marketing, business, design, environmental studies and more.
The Ireland hackathon is being organised by the NSC on behalf of the European Commission’s Competitive Space Start-ups for Innovation Initiative (CASSINI), the European programme to nurture business applications of digital space technologies. Irish teams will compete against teams from nine other EU countries over the weekend of the 19th and 20th of June, and the 1st place Irish team will go on to the European finals in July.
The Irish competition is sponsored by Blacknight Internet Solutions, with prizes of €2,500, €1,500 and €500 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. Each of these teams will also receive a .earth domain and a Minimus hosting package for one year from Blacknight. Michele Neylon, CEO of Blacknight, said, “We’re excited to support this event, and to see the ideas that come out of the weekend. Hackathons like the CASSINI are a great way to nurture new ideas and new approaches to Ireland’s green spaces. We are a big fan of showcasing Irish innovation, so it was a natural fit for us to sponsor the prizes that will help the winners to showcase their prototypes and build indigenous Irish businesses.”
Sign-ups, tools, and more information can be found at https://hackathons.cassini.
