Building tomorrow’s aviation solutions: Engage 2 announces its first Hackathon
A two-day event in Madrid connecting young professionals and experts in aviation and air traffic management, fostering innovation and addressing real-world challenges
The SESAR-funded Engage 2 project invites students, young professionals and early-career researchers to participate in its Hackathon, taking place in Madrid on 24-25 March 2025.
Registration is now open until the 26 January. Participants are encouraged to sign up early to secure their spots for this innovative event. Details on the venue and how to register are available on the Engage 2 Wiki, accessible here.
Held over two days in Madrid, the Hackathon will challenge participants to work in teams to design innovative solutions for pressing issues in ATM. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, attendees will have the opportunity to develop ideas that address industry needs while building connections with professionals and peers.
Exciting prizes for the two best teams
The Engage 2 Hackathon offers exciting prizes to the winning teams, including the opportunity to attend prestigious aviation events and access to valuable training resources. All the prizes are designed to reward innovation and support professional growth.
The first-place team will receive the exclusive “Airspace World 2025 Pack” which includes an all-expenses-paid trip to Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal (up to €750 per person, with a maximum of €3,000 per team, sponsored by SESAR 3 JU), plus €100 vouchers for each team member and the invitation to a unique breakfast with industry CEOs, with the opportunity to present their solution at the “Future Skies: Tomorrow’s Voices” event, sponsored by CANSO.
The second-place team will be awarded €500 in vouchers for online training platforms or other educational resources, allowing them to continue developing their skills and expertise in aviation and air traffic management sponsored by SESAR 3 JU.
Co-sponsored by key ATM players
To ensure the success of the competition, the event is supported by two key sponsors in addition to the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking:
CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) as a global advocate for air navigation service providers, ensures that participants gain exposure to leading industry figures. Thanks to its participation, the first awardees will be able to participate, all sponsored, in the upcoming edition of Airspace World, in Lisbon 13 to 15 May.
DataBeacon specialises in advanced data science and artificial intelligence solutions for the aviation industry. It focuses on innovative applications, including air traffic management, airline operations and airport management, all designed to optimize efficiency and enhance decision-making. To support the hackathon, DataBeacon will provide the curated datasets – prepared for competition use – and will set up the platform to ensure seamless data access for participants, as well as mentoring them during the competition.
Mentored by experienced professionals
In addition to the expertise offered to the participants by CANSO and DataBeacon, the hackathon will also count with the support of two additional entities:
Airport Regions Council (ARC), is a European network of regional and local authorities dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving innovation in airport-related development. With a focus on sustainable growth, regional integration, and community engagement, ARC representatives will mentor participants by sharing their knowledge and practical experience of the airport environment and operations.
ENAC (École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile) is a globally recognised leader in aviation education and research, renowned for its expertise in air traffic management, airport operations, and aviation technologies. With a mission to advance innovation and excellence in the aviation industry, ENAC brings knowledge and insight to our hackathon, guiding participants, offering them valuable advice, and ensuring teams develop meaningful solutions to the challenge proposed.
About Engage 2
Engage 2, the SESAR 3 research network, drives collaboration across academia, industry, and regulators to advance innovative solutions for air traffic management. By fostering knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and thematic challenges, it not only addresses aviation’s key challenges but also attracts new talent, ensuring a sustainable and innovative future for European airspace. The hackathon is organised by our member Innaxis with the support of the Engage2 consortium:
- Deep Blue Srl (DBL, IT)
- Technische Universitaet Braunschweig (TUBS, DE)
- University of Belgrade – Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering (UB-FTTE, RS)
- Fundacion Instituto de Investigacion Innaxis (INX, ES)
- Frequentis (FRQ, AT)
- EASN Technology Innovation Services (EASN, BE)
- Eurocontrol (ECTL, BE)
- University of Trieste (UNITS, IT)
- University of Westminster (UoW, UK)
Engage 2 project has received funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101114648. Find more info about SESAR objectives and action on the official website.
