The mission: stimulate open innovation and facilitate the creation of new value chains across aerospace, textile, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The high-tech incubator Science Park Graz was entrusted with the organisation of the 1^st GALACTICA HACKATHON, which successfully took place in February and March 2021. Not only were extraordinary ideas generated in the Hackathon but they also profited from the chance of further development, thanks to additional support instruments provided within GALACTICA project, e.g., through the open calls for Pioneer Acceleration and Orbital Projects. 

The Hackathon programme is implemented by Science Park Graz, with the involvement of AEI Tèxtils (GALACTICA project coordinator) and the other project partners: ATEVAL, NTT, SAG, CORALLIA, EMC2, CTA, EBAN, PRODUTECH.

Hard facts:

The first GALACTICA Hackathon was attended by 39 teams from 14 European countries: 24 teams competed in the Company category, 15 in the Student category. 24 proposals were submitted, out of which 22 were positively evaluated by jury members from the GALACTICA network. The 10 best projects were invited to a final event, in which they presented their innovative solutions and the related business models. Four prizes were awarded to winners and runner-ups in the two categories, for a total amount of € 50.000.

The ESA Business Incubation Centre network was significantly activated in the event: in the company category, both the winner (Fureho, Sweden) and the runner-up (Ienai Space, Spain) are incubated in ESA BICs, as well as two other teams which accessed the finals. 

Science Park Graz is already looking forward to the second Hackathon organized later in 2021, thus further supporting innovative companies in the EU.