Six thousand euro price pool divided between winners of Drones for Ukraine hackathon

With winners taking home part of the 6 thousand euro prize pool, Drones for Ukraine hackathon co-organised by Ministry of Defence and mobile operator SIA Latvijas Mobilais telefons concluded on Thursday, 30 May. 

“Drone technologies have demonstrated their efficiency also through widespread applications in Ukraine. We must be one step ahead and continue to solidify our innovations. The best way to do that is through ecosystem where Ministry of Defence, military industry, higher education and startups work in close conjunction. As we witnessed today, 24-hour hackathon Drones for Ukraine is a good starting point, a good launchpad for participation in Defence Ministry’s UAV innovation grant scheme,” Minister Sprūds underlined.

The first place winners received three thousand euros, second place was given two thousand and third place winners took home one thousand euro. Hackathon attracted the overall interest of 59 participants that represented 15 teams.

Participants included companies, engineers, tech enthusiasts and students who joined together in teams to work on new ideas for precision-guided air-dropped munitions, alternative navigation systems, customized communication and counter-drone technologies.

24-hour hackathon saw participants consulting with drone technology experts from leading Latvian drone technology manufacturers, Riga Technical University and National Armed Forces before working on their hackathon concepts.

Ministry of Defence has also launched a call for proposals in dedicated grant scheme. Deadline is 21 June. Companies will be able to apply for UAV development and innovation funding totalling € 600 000 euro per application. Scheme will fund projects for precision-guided air-dropped munition and components, electronic warfare and counter-drone technologies.

As announced previously, drone coalition for Ukraine, jointly established by Latvia and the UK, marked its three months of operation on 14 May. Initiative has so far been joined by 14 countries: Latvia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Canada, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany and Sweden. Coalition is open to new member states. Members of the drone coalition have so far raised more than €500 million, which will be spent to deliver drones to Ukraine.

MoD Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335393
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv