European Defense Tech Hackathon to Take Place in Lviv

From May 22 to 25, the city of Lviv will host the European Defense Tech Hackathon, the first event of its kind in Ukraine organized by the European Defense Tech Hub (EDTH).

According to a press release shared with Militarnyi, the hackathon will take place in partnership with Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, AB3 TECH, Women in Defense Tech, DroneAid, and Inflection, with support from lead partner Quantum Systems and technology partners including D3 VC, NUNC Capital, ARX Robotics, and others.

“We bring together European and Ukrainian talents — students, veterans, engineers, and innovators — to build technologies that truly matter,” said Benjamin Wolba, co-founder of EDTH. “This is a space for collaboration, bold ideas, and proof that Ukraine and Europe are committed to shaping the future together. Join us!”

Over 150 engineers from across Europe and beyond are expected to participate, working alongside Ukrainian military personnel to co-develop technologies aimed at giving Ukraine a battlefield edge. The hackathon will prioritize AI-driven solutions and other high-impact defense innovations.

The event will convene public sector leaders, technologists, military operators, and investors in an effort to accelerate deployment-ready technologies for Ukraine’s defense sector.

According to Viktoriya Honcharuk of the 3rd Assault Brigade, the urgency of the war requires moving fast from concept to battlefield-ready solutions.

“This hackathon is not just about innovation — it’s about urgency,” she said. “We are engaging engineers directly with frontline troops to develop technologies that address real combat needs. Ukraine doesn’t have the luxury of time. What’s created here can save lives tomorrow.”

Participants will choose from a list of military-defined challenges or propose their own, developing working prototypes over several days with guidance from military and technical mentors.

“Quantum Systems is pleased to support the European Defense Tech Hackathon in Lviv,” the company said in a statement. “After three years of deploying our drones in combat, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with the best Ukrainian specialists on the current challenges of war. As a European-Ukrainian company, we’re proud to be deeply integrated into both the Armed Forces and the broader Ukrainian tech ecosystem.”

The European Defense Tech Hub is a pan-European network focused on advancing defense innovation by connecting startups, technologists, and military stakeholders. In 2025, EDTH plans to organize more than 15 hackathons and 150 events across Europe.

During the hackathon, for security reasons, entry for visitors will be prohibited. However, anyone interested will be able to join the public Demo Day on Sunday, May 25, to see the results of the teams. Registration for participants is available on the EDTH website.

For more information, see Militarnyi’s special report: “European Defense Tech Hackathon: How Startups in Munich Solve Ukraine’s Defense Problems.” (in Ukrainian)