Hackathon problem statements

Definition and real case examples of hackathon problem statements for your hackathon in 2024

Published on the 15th of July 2024. 7.5 min read.

Introduction

Are you a hackathon organiser planning your next event?

We wrote this article for you to take some inspiration in writing down the problem statements to be solved by your hackathon participants, based on real use case examples.

We will provide a list of problem statements categorised by hackathon macro topic, deriving from past hackathons hosted on the Eventornado hackathon platform.

The hackathon macro topic

The hackathon macro topic is the specific field, industry, sector, area, or domain of the event.

It’s the big umbrella under which you can create several hackathon problem statements

Definition of the hackathon problem statements

A hackathon problem statement outlines the specific challenge or issue that hackathon participants need to solve.

An effective problem statement description often includes the following elements:

1. A comprehensive but concise description of the current state of the situation

2. The envisioned future state

3. The importance of addressing the problem

4. The tools or methodologies provided by the organisers to facilitate the creation of the solutions (optional)

5. Examples of possible and expected solutions (optional)

Crafting a detailed hackathon problem statement helps guide participants and sets the stage for innovative solutions.

Lastly, the hackathon problem statements are also called sub-topics, challenges, themes, tracks or categories.

Let’s begin with the list of macro topics and their real case problem statements.

Be inspired and have a good read!

Hackathons macro topics list

1. Web3

2. Femtech

3. Healthcare

4. Data

5. Sustainability

6. Bitcoin

7. EdTech

8. Blue Economy and Oceans

9. Space

10. Energy

11. Blockchain

1. Web3

Event name

AIOTI - European WEB3 Accelerator - Hackathon #2

Macro topic

This event was a collaborative mission to unlock the unexplored possibilities of WEB3 technologies, transforming innovative ideas into real-world solutions for a sustainable and efficient digital future.

Organiser

AIOTI - Alliance for IoT and Edge Computing Innovation

Problem statements

• DLT testing tools

  DLT testing tools: The "DLT Testbeds" challenge focused on benchmarking the boundaries of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) with a focus on its protocol performance and energy efficiency. This involved creating or refining frameworks to measure transaction speeds,  energy consumption, robustness and scalability. 

• Data Protection / Whistleblowing

  This subtopic focused on personal data protection and data governance as key enablers of an improved digitalized societal model.

• Wild Card/DLT-IoT-AI Convergence

  The "Wild Card / DLT-IoT-AI Convergence" challenge invited participants to break new ground by developing innovative tech solutions that harness the synergy of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This challenge was about exploring the intersections of these technologies to create scalable, secure, and efficient solutions for the digital future.

• Data Sharing

  This subtopic focused on data sharing as a key enabler for innovation ecosystems.

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2. Femtech

Event name

HackHERHealth

Macro topic

The HackHERHealth Hackathon was a hybrid event designed for participants to create solutions that help to close the gender health gap.

Organisers

This Femtech Innovation Hackathon was a truly collaborative event harnessing the power of industry, academia and the healthcare sector. It is organised under the Health Innovation West umbrella, sponsored by Astra Zeneca and hosted by GoCo Health Innovation City and Sahlgrenska Science Park.

Problem statements

• Improving Women’s Journey in Obesity

  Obesity presents a multifaceted challenge in women’s health, significantly impacted by life stages such as pregnancy and menopause, which bring unique hormonal changes and increase the risk of related conditions like Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). This challenge calls for innovative minds to: 

  • Address Specific Needs: Design innovative management and prevention strategies that address obesity in women, particularly focusing on those dealing with GDM and the hormonal changes of menopause.

  • Prevent Long-term Risks: Develop impactful solutions that not only manage but also prevent the escalation from GDM to Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and address the multifaceted nature of post-menopausal obesity.

  • Empower Through Personalisation: Engineer personalised, intuitive support systems and educational tools that empower women to take control of their health during these vulnerable and pivotal life stages.

• Pregnancy and postpartum care

  Despite Sweden's advanced healthcare system, pregnant and postpartum women often face fragmented care and language barriers, leading to uncertainty and unequal access to support. We're inviting you to change this narrative through innovation: 

  • Bridge Care Gaps: Develop solutions that offer continuous and accessible support, from pregnancy through to postpartum recovery, addressing the fragmentation in the Swedish healthcare system.

  • Democratise Information: Create user-friendly digital platforms for reliable, easy-to-access information, eliminating confusion and uncertainty for pregnant women.

  • Break Language and Cultural Barriers: Innovate to overcome language and cultural barriers in pregnant women, ensuring equal access to quality care and information.

  • Replicate Doula Support: Conceptualise ways to extend the personalised care and support provided by doulas to every pregnant woman, improving both experience and outcomes.

• Diagnosis for Neurodivergent Girls

  Neurodivergent girls, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), often face overlooked symptoms and diagnostic gender biases, leaving them without the support they need. This challenge seeks to address these disparities by inviting innovators like you to: 

  • Unveiling the Invisible: Develop innovative tools or methodologies to accurately identify and diagnose ASD and ADHD in girls, who often remain under the radar due to nuanced symptoms or masking behaviours.

  • Challenging Biases: Contribute to erasing gender biases in diagnosis and support, paving the way for early and effective interventions.

  • Holistic Support: Envision comprehensive solutions that aid in managing conditions like ASD and ADHD in young women, addressing co-occurring challenges such as anxiety and depression.

• Preventing Intimate Partner Violence

  Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is not just a personal issue but a major public health challenge. Despite advancements, healthcare systems often fall short in identifying, supporting, and protecting IPV victims. Could your innovative solution revolutionise how healthcare responds to this crisis? We're seeking innovative minds to: 

  • Break New Ground: Develop groundbreaking digital tools or novel protocols that aid healthcare professionals in recognising and responding effectively to IPV.

  • Enhance Support Systems: Conceive ideas that enhance synergy and coordination between healthcare services and support networks, ensuring comprehensive care for survivors.

  • Change Lives: Your innovation could be the key to transforming healthcare strategies worldwide, offering new hope and protection to those facing IPV.

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3. Healthcare

Event name

Health Hack: Digital Health Nation

Macro topic

The Health Hack was a 10-day event aimed at addressing patient and HCP`s challenges, co-creating digital health solutions and forming innovation project teams.  This event was organised for dreamers, innovators, or just someone with a curious and open mind.

Organiser

Basel Area.

Problem statements

• Patient engagement and empowerment

  We are looking for solutions that will help enhance patient empowerment and engagement with a focus on prevention, remote patient monitoring, patient education, and health literacy.

• Healthcare information quality, access, and interoperability

  We are looking for solutions that can leverage data to provide insights to solve the major challenges of healthcare.

• Value based healthcare (VBHC)

  Providing access to the best possible healthcare at reasonable costs is a global healthcare challenge. We are seeking out innovative solutions that contribute to providing the best possible health care for individuals at favorable costs with a main focus on PROMs, digitally enabled outcome measures, and innovative payment systems and platforms.

• Healthcare Professional (HCP) education and adoption of digital tools

  The field of healthcare is constantly evolving, and healthcare professionals require new forms of education and awareness to drive patient outcomes based on the latest scientific evidence and available technologies and solutions.

  We want to address this challenge by supporting ideas that promote new ways to engage with healthcare professionals and increase their knowledge and ability to adopt new digital health solutions. 

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4. Data

Event name

EMODnet Open Sea Lab 3.0 Hackathon

Macro topic

The Open Sea Lab Hackathon is a unique event that brings together data and multidisciplinary scientists, software developers, social innovators, and changemakers in Europe and around the world to harness the wealth of open-source, marine data offered by EMODnet to develop solutions to Ocean challenges.

Organiser

EMODnet

Problem statements

• Protecting and restoring marine & freshwater biodiversity

  How might we leverage EMODnet to evolve a true trans-European nature network that protects our sea areas; to restore rivers or to scale up nature-based solutions that improve the resilience of coastal communities?

  Participants will be challenged to use biology, seabed habitats and human activities data, interacting with EMODnet map viewer and data catalogue.

• Making the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular

  How might we leverage EMODnet to eliminate or sequester greenhouse gas emissions from maritime economic activities; develop zero-carbon and low impact aquaculture; promote low-carbon, multi-purpose use of the marine and water space; or mobilise the ocean and inland water’s potential for carbon-free energy?

  Participants will be challenged to use physics and human activities data, in combination with e.g., satellite data from Copernicus Marine Service and/or other data & research infrastructures (e.g., ICOS- Centre, Lifewatch, EMBRC), and any other data deemed relevant, interacting with EMODnet map viewer and data catalogue.

• Empowering social innovation

  How might we leverage EMODnet to inspire and support social innovation practices or participatory governance approaches that empower citizens to co-design and co-implement solutions to restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030?

  Participants will be challenged to leverage available resources (e.g., the EU Atlas of the Seas) to develop new applications that enhance users’ capabilities to respond to Ocean challenges, including promoting Ocean literacy and citizenship and/or making data more accessible to citizens (e.g., building a bot in Twitter that feeds off the Atlas of the Seas to provide user-requested updates on any specific resource published).

• Eliminating pollution of our ocean, seas and waters

  How might we leverage EMODnet to reduce microplastics and plastic litter at sea or to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides, through innovative solutions or improved international governance? 

  Participants will be challenged to use chemistry, physics and human activities data, interacting with EMODnet map viewer and data catalogue.

• Contributing to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

  How might we leverage EMODnet to advance a digital knowledge system that supports international collaboration towards better understanding, monitoring, forecasting and protecting the Ocean?

  Participants will be challenged to merge data from EMODnet (including resources available for Global Stakeholders), Copernicus Marine Service, Copernicus Earth observation and/or any other data service.

• Wild card: Hack the ocean!

  How might we leverage EMODnet data for the change that you would like to see in our relationship with the Ocean?

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5. Sustainability

Event name

ROWAD Hackathon

Macro topic

Bring together entrepreneurs and startups to develop cutting-edge solutions to challenge across five categories, namely FinTech, AgriTech, EduTech, and Sustainability Tech.

Organiser

Qatar Development Bank

Problem statements

• FinTech

  Fintech startups developing new technology that seek to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services to businesses or consumers is eligible to apply.

• HealthTech

  HealthTech challenge revolves around harnessing technology to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes. Participants developing innovative solutions that address pressing healthcare issues, from enhancing patient care and remote monitoring to streamlining medical record management, Telehealth Infrastructure, Security & Privacy, Patients’ experience, etc…

• Sustainability Tech

  Sustainability Tech is dedicated to addressing environmental and sustainability issues through technological innovation. Participants creating solutions that promote eco-friendly practices, reduce carbon footprints, and contribute to a more sustainable future in Renewable energy & energy security, social sustainability, protecting global biodiversity, etc…

• AgriTech

  Agritech Sector focuses on leveraging technology to address pressing agricultural and food-related issues. Participants working on developing cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and productivity in the agricultural sector, that involves: Digitization of food systems, Autonomous agricultural machinery, Product Quality Control and others.

• EduTech

  Edutech is centered on reimagining education through technology-driven solutions. Participants working on creating innovative tools and platforms that enhance learning experiences, bridge educational gaps, empower educators and learners through gamification, social learning, online testing, etc…

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6. Bitcoin

Event name

Build for Africa Hackathon

Macro topic

Build innovative applications and tools to solve African problems powered by Bitcoin and the Lightning network.

In partnership with the Africa Bitcoin Conference 2023, the Build for Africa Hackathon served as a launchpad for open innovation and collaborative problem-solving, where builders converged to generate novel ideas through an idea hack focused on tackling Africa-specific challenges, and accelerate their Bitcoin and Lightning projects through mentorship in contextual design and development.

Organiser

BTrust

Problem statements

• Cross-Border Settlements / Payments

  Innovative solutions to make international settlements faster, cheaper, and more accessible than before in Africa, using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Education and E-Learning

  Innovative solutions to enhance learning experiences, democratize access to education, and reshape the future of online learning in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Social / Community Impact

  Innovative solutions to drive positive social and community impact, promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Media and Entertainment

  Innovative solutions to enhance content delivery, enable microtransactions, or build decentralized media platforms to revolutionize how we consume, create, and distribute content in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Business Administration Tools

  Innovative solutions for efficient accounting, revolutionizing bookkeeping, CRM and payroll systems, or reimagining inventory management in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Microtransactions and Micropayments

  Innovative solutions for handling micro digital payments and small-scale financial transactions efficiently and securely in Africa, using Bitcoin & Lightning 

• Regulatory Frameworks

  Innovative solutions to resolve critical regulatory issues, and streamline / modernize regulatory processes in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Governance and Anti-Corruption

  Innovative solutions to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance (such as decentralized voting systems, transparent supply chain tracking, or anti-corruption monitoring tools) across various sectors in Africa, using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Privacy Tech (KYC, Non-custodial Solutions)

  Innovative solutions that protect user privacy, enhance financial security, and decentralize control over personal data in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Agriculture and Food Security

  Innovative solutions to address agriculture and food security challenges, improve supply chains, traceability, and access to food resources in Africa using Bitcoin & Lightning

• Peer-to-Peer Marketplaces

  Innovative solutions to empower individuals and businesses, streamline transactions, and unlock new opportunities for economic growth in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning 

• Healthcare and Telemedicine

  Innovative solutions to improve healthcare accessibility, enhance remote medical consultations, and empower patients with secure, decentralized healthcare in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning 

• Energy and Sustainability

  Innovative solutions to optimize energy distribution, promote renewable energy adoption, or create bitcoin-based sustainability initiatives in Africa,  using Bitcoin & Lightning 

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7. EdTech

Event name

EdTech Hack

Macro topic

Create visionary and sustainable ideas that can reshape the landscape of education.

Organiser

Tallinn University

Problem statements

• Enabling Transformational Learning Through Digitalisation

  E-waste is an accelerating global challenge that requires an immediate change of behaviour and product circularity. How can we utilise a blended learning format to engage youth in the topic with impactful outcomes? What are the approaches and techniques that build curiosity and hold the attention of secondary school students? How can we attract more female students to STEAM subjects with a sustainability context?

  We invite participants to co-create concepts and prototypes of blended learning assets that can be used to enhance the current E-waste Circularity Challenge and Digital Waste Challenge courses. These could take the shape of interactive tools, ingenious ways of utilising existing solutions, gamification, and so on. The best solutions will be implemented in the course materials - either directly, or where relevant, with external funding.

• Revolutionizing STEAM Education with Emerging Technologies

  Are you ready to embark on an educational journey that transcends boundaries and sparks innovation? Join us for a groundbreaking challenge that will redefine the way we approach STEAM education in schools. Get ready to dive into the world of emerging technologies that are set to transform classrooms into vibrant hubs of creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

  Emerging technologies are seen as powerful tools to revolutionize learning, engage students, and equip them for the future. The integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education creates a holistic learning experience, breaking down traditional subject barriers. These technologies provide platforms for learning, particularly in coding and robotics, enabling the rehearsal of science, math, and tech skills. Importantly, the "A" in STEAM emphasizes the arts' role in making technology tangible, fostering creative expression, and solving problems. While some schools have successfully applied similar methods, the potential of emerging technologies remains largely untapped. Implementation into curricula necessitates careful consideration, along with increased awareness among teachers and school management. Ethical guidelines and policies are essential for safe and responsible technology utilization. Ultimately, the integration of emerging technologies holds the key to enhancing students' and educators' technological literacy, inspiring exploration and creativity.

• Enhancing Personalized Learning in the Digital Age

  Join us in revolutionizing education! Discover digital tools for personalized learning, catering to all students' needs. From learning difficulties to advanced challenges, let's create custom paths. Unleash the potential of learning platforms and engage management, communities, and parents. Educators, developers, and visionaries, collaborate in this hands-on hackathon to reshape learning journeys and empower every student!

  This is a journey to transform classrooms through personalized learning for every learner. Together, we'll delve into innovative digital tools and their applications in tailored education. Let's empower those facing learning challenges and those craving greater enrichment. How can we mold unique learning journeys for each student? Uncover fresh perspectives on leveraging learning platforms and assessment tools to guide individualized paths. And most importantly, let's unite school leaders, the learning community, and parents in embracing technology's potential. This dynamic hackathon calls upon educators, developers, and dreamers to collaborate in reshaping the future of learning pathways. Through interactive challenges and collaborative idea sessions, we'll harness technology's ability to craft educational adventures as distinctive as each learner.

• Transforming the Learning Experience in Estonian-Language Studies

  Challenge unites experts to innovate at the intersection of education and technology. Collaborate to reshape learning with solutions like AI-driven language apps, virtual reality immersion, adaptive learning platforms, and gamified assessments. Imagine language exchange platforms, connecting learners with native speakers, or digital classrooms enriched with cultural content.

  Modern education is at the brink of a transformative revolution, driven by the integration of cutting-edge technologies that could reshape the learning landscape. This is especially pertinent in the context of Estonian-language studies. The fusion of arts with technology not only makes the abstract tangible but also nurtures creative problem-solving and expression.
  While some similar methods have worked well in the past, there's still a lot of untapped potential in using new technologies for Estonian-language studies to improve a learning experience and sustainability. 
  Through interactive challenges, collaborative brainstorming sessions, and dynamic hackathons, this shared endeavor envisions educational adventures as distinctive and diverse as the learners themselves.
  The integration of emerging technologies into Estonian-language studies has the potential to revolutionize education. By embracing personalized learning, capitalizing on innovative tools, and fostering collaboration, we embark on a journey that not only enhances the learning experience but also shapes the future of education in ways that were once unfathomable.

• Fostering Seamless Teacher Succession and School Excellence

  Revolve the schools into a new era of excellence in our dynamic hackathon. Discover the power of merging technology and teaching to reimagine seamless teacher succession and school excellence. Dive into data-driven decision-making, and innovative teacher training, delve into virtual mentoring and platforms! Imagine how we can foster inclusivity of the school and foster communication with other learning communities and institutions.

  Step in to solve transformative challenges! Join visionaries from ICT, coding, education leadership, and teaching in shaping the future of seamless teacher succession and school excellence. Together, we'll harness data-driven decisions, VR and AI for teacher training, virtual mentoring, digital portfolios, and smart classrooms. Imagine mentorship transcending physical bounds, as virtual connections empower the next generation of educators. Envision the transformation of student growth, encapsulated in digital portfolios that showcase milestones and accomplishments. Amplified communication channels with parents become the norm, nurturing a holistic and collaborative learning environment. Let's create online learning communities, personalized paths for students, and an inclusive school environment. Unite for innovation, unleash education's potential!

• EduEmpower: Empowering Adults learners through technology

  In the landscape of adult learning, emerging technologies and personalized approaches are catalysts for transformation. The upcoming hackathon unites educators, developers, and learners to reshape learning pathways, bridging the digital divide and enhancing individual competences. This collaborative effort harnesses technology's potential to craft individualized educational experiences, ultimately empowering adult learners for a future rich with possibilities.

  In the realm of adult learning, emerging technologies offer transformative possibilities. Integrating STEAM education breaks barriers, emphasizing holistic learning and creative problem-solving. Similarly, personalized learning, driven by digital tools, caters to diverse competences, addressing challenges and fostering enrichment. This dynamic journey unites educators, developers, and learners in a hackathon that envisions reshaped learning pathways. By leveraging technology's potential, we aim to enhance individual competences while bridging the digital divide. Through collaboration, we harness technology's power to craft unique educational experiences, empowering adult learners for the future.

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8. Blue Economy and Oceans

Event name

#OceanHack4EU

Macro topic

Create data-driven solutions to ocean challenges.

The participants were invited to use data and information from the EU’s Copernicus Marine Service to tackle a problem statement of their choice.

Other EU marine data providers EMODnet and EUMETSAT, data partners of the event, also supported the teams.

The event echoed Mercator Ocean International’s mission towards global ocean knowledge for a sustainable ocean aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development vision.

It also reflected the aim of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and waters” to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement, and blue investments.

Organiser

Mercator Ocean International

Problem statements

• Healthy Ocean

  Join us in fostering a healthy ocean by innovating solutions for monitoring water quality, predicting harmful algal blooms, reducing pollution, and protecting species from plastic debris using Copernicus data.Get inspired by these ideas:
  
  Ocean Health Monitoring Platforms: Develop platforms that utilize data to monitor various indicators of ocean health, such as water temperature, salinity, acidity, and nutrient levels. These solutions could provide real-time data and alerts to stakeholders, allowing for timely interventions to address environmental threats.

  
Water Quality Monitoring Applications: Create applications that use data to support people who need to access and monitor water quality regularly, such as coastal communities, fisheries, and aquaculture operators. The applications could provide user-friendly interfaces for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing water quality data, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions about resource management.


  Harmful Algal Bloom Prediction Systems: Design systems that leverage data to predict, monitor, and mitigate harmful algal blooms (HABs). By analyzing environmental factors such as water temperature, nutrient levels, and ocean currents, these systems could forecast the onset and spread of HABs, enabling proactive measures to protect marine ecosystems and public health.


  Pollution Monitoring and Reduction Tools: Develop tools that use data to monitor various types of pollution in the ocean, including oil spills, chemical contaminants, and plastic debris. These tools could integrate satellite imagery, remote sensing data, and machine learning algorithms to detect and track pollution sources, assess environmental impacts, and inform pollution prevention and cleanup strategies.


  Plastic Debris Management Strategies: Using Copernicus data, create strategies for protecting species and ecosystems from plastic debris. Participants could develop models to track the movement of plastic waste in the ocean, identify hotspots of accumulation, and prioritize cleanup efforts. Additionally, they could propose innovative solutions for reducing plastic pollution at its source, such as implementing policy interventions or promoting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.

• Safe Ocean

  Join us in safeguarding the ocean's safety through innovative solutions for monitoring, reducing maritime casualties, combating coastal erosion, promoting sustainable ship routing, and enhancing community resilience to extreme weather events. Below are some examples of solutions: 
  
  Real-Time Monitoring Systems: Develop systems that use satellite data to monitor ocean conditions in real-time, including sea surface temperature, wave height, and weather patterns. This information can help identify potential hazards and alert ships to dangerous conditions, reducing the risk of maritime accidents.

  Collision Prediction Algorithms: Create algorithms that analyze data along with ship traffic patterns to predict potential collisions at sea. 

  Coastal Erosion Monitoring Tools: Utilize data to monitor coastal erosion and identify areas at risk. By understanding the factors contributing to erosion, such as sea level rise and wave action, communities can implement mitigation strategies to protect coastal infrastructure and habitats.

  Ship Routing Optimization Platforms: Develop platforms that use data to optimize ship routing for safety and sustainability. By considering factors such as weather conditions, sea currents, and potential hazards, these platforms can help ships plan the safest and most efficient routes, reducing the risk of accidents and minimizing environmental impact.

  Community Resilience Initiatives: Create tools and resources to help coastal communities build resilience to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and storm surges. This could involve using data to improve early warning systems, develop evacuation plans, and strengthen infrastructure to withstand natural disasters.

• Living Ocean

  Join the challenge to preserve the vitality of our oceans by innovating solutions for monitoring, protecting, and sustainably managing marine life and ecosystems! Here are some possible solutions: 
  
  Ecosystem Monitoring Platforms: Develop platforms that utilize data to monitor the health and livability of marine ecosystems. These platforms could track indicators such as water quality, biodiversity, and habitat integrity to assess the overall condition of marine environments.

  Species Protection and Restoration Tools: Identify areas of high biodiversity and prioritize conservation efforts. Develop algorithms to detect and monitor endangered species, track their movements, and identify threats to their habitats. 

  Fisheries Management Systems: Utilize data to implement sustainable fisheries management practices. This could involve developing predictive models to estimate fish populations, monitor fishing activity, and assess the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems. 

  Aquaculture Planning Platforms: Design platforms that use data to support sustainable aquaculture practices. These platforms could analyze environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels to optimize site selection for aquaculture operations. 

  Marine Conservation Education Initiatives: Create educational resources and outreach programs to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation. This could involve visualizing data showing the changes occurring in the ocean, engaging stakeholders, and fostering a greater appreciation for marine ecosystems.

• Powerful Ocean

  Harness the power of the ocean while ensuring safety and sustainability. Here are some possible solutions:

  Renewable Energy Planning Tools: Develop tools that utilize data to identify suitable locations for offshore renewable energy projects, such as wind farms and tidal turbines. These tools could analyze factors like wind speed, wave height, and seabed topography to optimize the design and placement of renewable energy infrastructure.

  Offshore Energy Risk Assessment Platforms: Create platforms that use Copernicus data to assess risks associated with offshore oil and gas platforms. You could develop predictive models to identify potential hazards, such as extreme weather events or equipment failures, and implement mitigation strategies to minimize risks to workers and the environment.

  Accident Monitoring Systems: Design monitoring systems that leverage data to detect and prevent accidents in offshore energy operations. These systems could integrate real-time data on environmental conditions, vessel traffic, and equipment performance to provide early warnings of potential safety hazards and enable timely interventions.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Tools: Data could be utilized to conduct environmental impact assessments for offshore energy projects. You could develop tools to analyze the potential effects of energy extraction activities on marine ecosystems, including habitat disturbance, pollution, and noise pollution, and inform decision-making processes to minimize negative impacts.

  Emergency Response Planning Platforms: Create platforms/applications that use Copernicus data to support emergency response planning for offshore energy accidents. These platforms could integrate data on environmental conditions, resource availability, and response capabilities to facilitate coordinated and effective responses to incidents such as oil spills or equipment failures.

• Inspirational Ocean

  Make the ocean an inspiration for everyone by developing inventive educational apps, outreach initiatives, and interactive learning materials to raise awareness about marine conservation. Below are some examples: 

  Interactive Educational Apps: Create educational apps that utilize data to provide engaging and interactive learning experiences about the ocean. These apps could include features such as virtual tours of marine ecosystems, interactive maps showcasing oceanographic data, and educational games that teach about marine conservation and biodiversity.

  Outreach Programs: Develop outreach programs that use Copernicus data to raise awareness about the ocean's importance and inspire action for its conservation. 

  Interactive Learning Materials: Design interactive learning materials for marine conservation awareness that incorporate Copernicus data. These materials could include multimedia presentations, hands-on activities, and online resources that illustrate critical concepts related to ocean health, such as ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and marine pollution, using real-time data and visualizations.

  Citizen Science Initiatives: Kickstart citizen science initiatives that empower people to contribute to ocean research and conservation efforts using Copernicus data. Participants could develop platforms where citizens can collect and analyze data on marine biodiversity, water quality, and coastal erosion and contribute valuable insights to scientific research and policy-making.

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9. Space

Event name

Act In Space Sweden

Macro topic

A 24-hour hackathon of fun and creativity, to engage in cross-functional teams that worked hard to solve Challenges from Space-related industries.

Participants had the chance to turn their ideas into actual concept solutions, with the potential to make a true impact on both the planet and space industry.

Organiser

Openhack

Problem statements

• Do you copy?

  Enable Space transportation missions around Earth and far beyond by proposing new key technology brick.
  Access to and returning from space require complex paths for which European space transportation solutions need continuous tracking and data relay. Today European launch services rely mainly on ground stations for tracking, communication and data relay. This induces potential lacks of visibility, lacks of availability and loss of competitiveness. Using European Satcom for covering space transportation services to Earth orbits but also to Moon and deep space will increase the availability and reliability of the service, will offer more tickets opportunities and accessible data during the transportation

  Your Mission: Propose new tech/product/service participating to the overall communication and data relay between the space transportation vehicle, the satcom(s) and the ground segment . Any medium of communication is welcome ,from radio-communications in L-band L,X- band , or Ka-band, to laser or optical communication The challenge : come with innovative technologies compatible with space transportation constraints (in volume dimension, flow of data , secured /reliable, in keeping the communication while the vehicle is rolling/ moving,..) Your added value : A Smart, low cost and adaptable technology/software to fit in the overall system Outcome of this challenge shall provide a viable solution (Profitable) with a clear market traction (Desirability) based on an existing technology (Feasibility)

• Fighting for Climate Change

  Fight for climate change with Earth Observation satellite data.
  With the smartest constellation combining radar and optical satellites, Airbus Defence and Space provides what you need - when you need it: wide coverage, fine detail, intensive monitoring, reliable and successful new collections, fresh and extensive archives, premium reactivity. To create new innovative services from Satellite imagery, Airbus Defence and Space is providing you access to the UP42 Platform.

• The Power of Earth Observation & AI.

  Leveraging the power of Earth Observation and open sources data via Artificial Intelligence.
  With the smartest constellation combining radar and optical satellites, Airbus Defence and Space provides what you need - when you need it: wide coverage, fine detail, intensive monitoring, reliable and successful new collections, fresh and extensive archives, premium reactivity. To create new innovative services from Satellite imagery, Airbus Defence and Space is providing you access to its open and free UP42 Platform .

• Invent a recyclable satellite

  Space object architecture and economical models for a conducive circular economy

  Nowadays satellites are not designed to be recycled, and there is no enabling infrastructure. As a result a progressive saturation on the most common orbits is observed (most noticeably for the polar orbits, between 700 and 1000 km), being a source of collisions generating space debris that may start chain reaction collisions. Yet, on Earth numerous circular economies are developing, from chemical batteries, to materials (plastic, steel, …) …
  
  Imagine a paradigm in which space objects would be recycled (partially or entirely). What would they look like ? Which infrastructures would be required in space and on Earth ? How could this be financed ? Depending on your expertise area, you may explore the technological distinct features or the economical aspects ... or even both !

• Invent public services for space

  Architectures for space infrastructures and economical models defining public services for space
  "The very vast majority of satellites has onboard its own propellant to feed its thrusters for orbital manoeuvers and orbit corrections, its own onboard equipments to generate and store electrical power (solar panels, batteries), to process and store data from its sensors (processors and memory banks), … All this leads to a non-optimal situation where each space object (like an explorer in the desert) has onboard all the required resources for its entire lifespan that, depending on the specifications, may reach 20 years.

  Invent a paradigm where space objects could benefit from orbital services (for example like fuel stations, wireless electrical distributions, digital cloud storage, …) What types of services would be needed and why ? What infrastructures would be required to offer such services ? How serviceable space objects would look like ?
  Envision what would be all the created chain values. You may explore the technological distinct features or the economical aspects ... or even both !

• Satellite alert ! Incoming debris

  Ability for an autonomous satellite to detect objects in its visual field, to understand the object trajectory and to engage avoidance manoeuvers. Making the satellite autonomous without a debris database using cameras & smart onboard software.

  "Provided technology : current methods for object detection on Earth, embedded hardware constraints, debris trajectory calculation methods.
  Today the satellite trajectory monitoring (with respect to collisions) is based on a debris database which is expensive and not easy to keep up to date (debris can disappear, there can be new ones, small debris (less than 1cm) are not listed, meteorites are not monitored …). Updates are often annual and therefore may not contain the latest information. Monitoring operations are complex and costly.
  It is proposed to use onboard objects detection, object type analysis, object current and projected trajectory to check for a collision course that would trigger avoidance manoeuvers. The satellite becomes intelligent."
  
  "The main challenges are : objects detection must be done all around the satellite; the satellite must learn to recognize the detected object type (debris, satellite, meteorite…); the satellite must analyze the object trajectory (speed, direction) and check for possible collision. Eventually the satellite must engage avoidance manoeuvers.
  The technology used to detect moving objects (type of cameras, sensors) must be studied. The onboard object type analysis algorithm and course prediction must be studied. If required, the avoidance manoeuvers must be studied. The studies include a description of the issues, the proposed solutions (using existing technologies, technologies that need to mature and technologies to be invented).
  A road map to develop the entire system must be assessed with recurring and non-recurring costs. The safety to cost ratio needs to be detailed."

• Make me Fly!

  Find new ideas based on Earth technologies to build the next Space generation.
  We are looking for exceptional Earth development with a clear relevance for Space that promise to have a lasting influence on our daily lives. This can be anything developped on Earth and adapted to the Space environment such as: Hardware, Industrial processes, Applications, Business models, etc...

  Outcome of this challenge shall provide a viable solution (Profitable) with a clear market traction (Desirability) based on an existing technology (Feasibility) You can use one of the following inspirational domains to start your adventure: - Earth observation and environmental monitoring - Mobility and transportation - IoT/M2M Space connectivity - Space exploration and the sustainable use of space - Agriculture, life sciences and health - Microgravity and materials research - New and sustainable technologies and services - etc...

• The truth from space

  A secured authentication server (prooving something is genuine) is used to validate an unsecured civilian GNSS signals to authenticate anywhere, anytime a physical or virtual object, eg a payment location, a place of manufacturing, a smartphone location, a computer location, computer data …

  This technology is not vulnerable to malicious attacks (spoofing...), can be used anywhere, anytime and is not costly to set-up and operate. The invention provides an authentication mark, an authentication encoding and decoding device as well as an authentication server. More info at : https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=fr_EP&FT=D&date=20180131&CC=EP&NR=3276561A1&KC=A1#
  
  The authentication server must access a database with identification data of authentication devices. A GNSS simulator must be attached to the authentication server. The authentication device must be able to receive and process GNSS data, it must have a secure processing unit with cryptographic or pseudo-random number generation functions.

• Introducing … the Helicraft carrier

  A hybrid aircraft with rotary wings is presented. This efficient set-up has minimal induced torque, good mass to power ratio and good aero performances. This can be applied to vehicles such as drones (any planet with an atmosphere), can be fitted for crane operations, ...

  This aircraft has no fuselage but only possesses a central rotation axis and blades. The central hub does not power the blades. All, or at least one of the blades (similar to a helicopter), are equipped with a propulsion system (jet engine, but preferably contra rotative propellers… similar to an aircraft). Blades generate lift when spinning. At least one blade is hollow and hosts the flight control system and the required power. The loaded blades create longitudinal forces minimizing bending and shearing forces in the blades. A payload can be attached to the central hub. More info at : https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=fr_EP&FT=D&date=20170922&CC=FR&NR=3048956A1&KC=A1#
  
  Proper location of the added masses inside the hollow blades : the flight control system, the energy storage (electric, fuel). If a fuel tank is used, then it can be placed together with the blade(s) having the propulsion system. Centrifugal forces must be taken into account in the engine feeding line. The fuel tank mass will decrease during the flight (variable mass for the blade), the longitudinal (centrifugal forces) will vary.

• Extend EGNOS over the oceans

  EGNOS is the European SBAS (Satellite-based Augmentation Systems) for aircraft navigation and is in use for 11 years

  To provide accurate positioning, EGNOS uses (40) ground reference stations (RIMS), to compare the delta between the correct position of the stations, and the position provided by the GPS. Therefore, similarly to the SBAS system, EGNOS area is constrained and limited by the presence of ground stations.
  
  The challenge is to propose an offshore solution to host additional reference stations over the oceans to extend the EGNOS system range. The solution shall offer : 1) the energy solution, 2) the required hosting equipment (2 antennas at 120m of distance, and one 30m² shelter for the equipments), 3) a solution for the stability to maintain the antennas positioning accuracy (at maximum 1 cm) and 4) the capacity to access to the site for maintenance

• Reduce the impact of aviation on climate change by 50%

  Machine learning, image recognition expertise, industrial development tool chain.

  To assess the condensation trail (contrail) formation, Sopra Steria and the participants need : high resolution satellite images with less than 30 minutes updates to detect condensation trails; traffic and flight data (latitude, longitude, altitude, type of aircraft,…) from ADS-B (Flightradar24 or other source); 3D gridded data with meteorological information (temperature, pressure, humidity). Sopra Steria will provide its machine learning expertise and the development environment to support the participants.
  
  According to IPCC, non-CO2 impact of aviation represents more than half of the direct impact of aviation on climate change. This non-CO2 impact is mainly due to the formation of cirrus clouds originating from aircraft condensation trails (contrails). These contrails are produced under specific atmospheric conditions and can be avoided simply by changing the cruising altitude. The objective is to use machine learning techniques to analyze satellite images and to assess for the existence of aircraft contrails. This output can be fed either to meteorological services providers for contrail predictions or to air navigation services providers to avoid contrails. This approach could use real data to assess the models performances. The participants can correlate this detection with traffic data and meteorological parameters.

• Build the 3D universe

  Using time and geo referenced contributions from many sources, near real time and 4D space rebuilding can be done on a dedicated video processing server through the use of a simple and low-cost system to operate.
  Data sources are numerous : image and video sensors, mobile phones, drones, autonomous vehicles, smart glasses … . By gathering images (and metadata) from many sources, different angles and time, one can find matching visual elements and reconstruct a dynamic 3D scene. The range of application is very wide, from sporting events, to concerts, crisis situation, ... 

• Add a pinch of reality to your photos!

  A connected device is enhanced with photorealistic rendering with the actual in-situ descriptors. This provides a richer and better experience for the end user. For example, this can be very useful to any navigation systems (cars, mobile phones, ...)

  Existing services use real life photos (Google, Apple, Microsoft, OpenStreetCam…) in a given environment (time of the day, seasons, weather, traffic, …). Using expected descriptors at a given position and given time, an accurate photorealistic view can be rendered and added to the image database. Descriptors can also be manually set by the user. This is especially useful for car driving. This technology has other fields of applications, for example when buying a house and seeing how it'll look like at different seasons... More info at : https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=fr_EP&FT=D&date=20190703&CC=EP&NR=3506207A1&KC=A1#
  
  The photorealistic renderer must communicate with external servers to obtain expected data at a given position (weather service, traffic prediction, …). The renderer must be configured to add moving effects to create animations between still frames. Newly created images should be added to the collection of images and stored on servers. Metadata with the image descriptors should be stored. The rights and conditions of use of existing images must be verified.

• Keep your drones on a leash

  A winch system on a carrier vehicle (earth and extraplanetary rovers, boats, ...) is proposed. The cable guarantees first that the drone can be safely pulled back to its base, it also serves as a mean to power the drone, to transfer data.
  
   

  This system is well suited to the space environment, to extra-planetary explorations and even to earth-based applications. The drone construction is simplified : mass, dimensions and its operational time usage can be much longer than regular drones. External power sources can be considered such as solar panels located onto the carrier vehicle. The carrier vehicle can accommodate several drone / winch systems.
  For planetary uses, the winch cable linear mass must be as low as possible. The winch cable ought to be resistant to traction forces. There must be no obstacles along the wich cable. The winch engine must not abruptly stop rotating as to avoid sudden increase in traction load and destabilizing effects on the drone. The operations for the separation of the drone from the carrier vehicle when taking off and the landing back onto the carrier must be carefully executed.

• Where is my rocket ?

  A simple system, not based on usual GNSS technology, is proposed to locate any vehicule equipped with the right radio-frequency emitter. The method does not require radars.

  Using message timestamping, a geo-localized ground network can estimate the location, velocity and vehicle clock offset. The method is based on pseudo-distance and pseudo-velocity estimations using well known algorithms (such as Kalman filters or least square methods). This method is cheap to operate and uses simple hardware. The bandwidth between the ground stations does not need to be large. This can be applied to a space rocket, drone, ground vehicles, any item equipped the proper RF emitter. The trajectory can be tracked in real time, it can even be fed back from the ground into the vehicle for the own onboard vehicle guidance. 

• Lost underground? Turn on the lights!

  Using Visible Light Communication (VLC), a network of emitters communicates with a central clock and compute pseudo random sequences. This cheap, easy to set-up and use positioning system does not require RF signals.

  GNSS positioning depends on satellites and is not applicable for indoor positioning (underground, warehouses, …) with poor RF signals. Creating positioning systems with ad-hoc RF method, inertial sensors, is costly and complex. The set of VLC transmitters gives a GNSS-like signal, they are connected to a central equipment with a clock for time synchronization. A receiver is configured to receive data from a set of VLC transmitters and may compute its location using pseudo-ranges. The bit rate of the navigation message is higher than 500 bits/sec.

• Artificial Intelligence for precision

  Improving the accuracy of the positioning of GNSS receivers with Machine Learning (ML).

  Multipath is a phenomena particularly present in urban environments due to signal reflections on closely spaced buildings, leading to wrong distance estimations by the GNSS receivers to the satellites transmitting the signal. The main idea of the technology patented by ESA (PCT/EP2021/052383) is to use the information already available in the GNSS receivers, to create a Machine Learning model to be used after the positioning engine in order to compensate for this error. It can be integrated in the current generation of receivers at a software level, without requiring a hardware revision. It is computationally simple and can work in standalone mode, there is no need for an internet connection.
  
  The challenge is to find a field of application where the accuracy and simplicity of the patent is of value, taking into account the environments where its use is more advantageous. Think and develop a business idea to bring it to the market. Define the business case: identify your customers, their needs and the unique selling points you can offer with this patent compared to existing solutions. What will be your revenue streams and cost structure? Carry out a simple market study.

• From space to my Life with Copernicus

  Galileo (European Navigation Satellite System) serves more than 2 billion users around the world. Copernicus (European Earth Observation Programme) offers information from satellite observations, in-situ data to understand our planet changes.

  "Galileo Open Service (OS) is free and available for timing and positioning applications. In addition to professional receivers, nearly any new mobile phone is Galileo compatible and can receive and process navigation messages that can be used in countless applications.
  Copernicus builds on a constellation of satellites that makes a huge number of daily observations - taking advantage of a global network of thousands of land, air, and marine-based sensors to create the most detailed pictures of Earth. The vast majority of data/information delivered by Copernicus is made available and accessible to any citizen, and any organisation around the world on a free, full, and open basis. This information helps to better understand how and in what way our planet may be changing, and how this might influence our daily lives. Copernicus also boosts commercial applications in many different sectors by providing full and open access to Earth observation data and added value information.
  
  The objective of this challenge is to support the development of consumer solutions such as mobile applications, wearables (smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness trackers, etc.) drones or robotics that will address major societal challenges in focus areas such as health, citizen safety and security, gaming and entertainment, sports and fitness, and tourism; leveraging the Galileo and/or Copernicus EU Space programmes.

• The Moon Race Challenge

  Contribute to the new era of the human Space Exploration by bulding a disruptive NewSpace business.
  We are in 2032, the world has radically changed. The world is now high tech, robust & reliant with massive new affordable services: 1/NewTechno: Cloud, Analytics, IoT, ALM, VR, DigitalTwin.. 2/NewProducts: New launcher, High optical resolution, Cyber resilience, Habitat, Inflatable structure.. 3/NewServices: In Space manufacturing, Robot, Debris removal, Space awareness.. Space agencies&private compagnies want to move fast ensuring an alternative in case of major issue on the Earth. Moon base settlement is the first step to demonstrate the robustness of the whole space system. We need all digital citizens to build a complete system to go to the next level. And you, what will you do for us ?

  Your mission: use multiple new techproduct/service to create massive scalable & hiighly available functions to support the Moon base settlement mission and operations. Focus only on a small proportion of the meta-sytem.. Feasability: Imagine a brand new disruptive concept. Find inspiration looking to state of the art new capabilities, ensure tecnichal capability & sustainability to serve humanity expansion in space. Draft and explain your value proposition with concrete facts, visual, prototype.. Desirability: Find a real market and customers that will be ready to invest in. This can be about B2B (agencies or private stector), B2C (any digital citizens), B2G (government)/ Alone is quickest way, together with partnership in more sustainable. Viability : Ensure the business will be profitable. Business viability is must have in less then 2 years. Great ideas ar cool, probitable ones are better! Go fast, time is running and your solution must be live less than 24h. Ready, Set, Launch!

• Solar panels are blooming

  A reversible, compact, robust and light set-up based on two layers of solar panels mobile in rotation allows to maximize the effective surface area. The system is reversible, does not consume electric power for its deployment.

  The system uses spring hinges to deploy the panels from their folded state to deployed state in a first step and a torsion spring is used to rotate (preferably by 45°) the upper plate from the lower plate in a second step. The mechanisms are simple and thus robust, for example they can easily be integrated into satellites. Torsion springs are used, they are light, compact and robust to rupture. More than two plates can be used, plates rotation can be optimized depending on the number of panels. The process can be applied to receivers, antennas and is not limited to solar panels.

• Galileo and Copernicus for a greener planet

  Galileo (European Navigation Satellite System) serves more than 2 billion users around the world. Copernicus (European Earth Observation Programme) offers information from satellite observations, in-situ data to understand our planet changes.

  Galileo Open Service (OS) is free and available for timing and positioning applications. In addition to professional receivers, nearly any new mobile phone is Galileo compatible and can receive and process navigation messages that can be used in countless applications. Copernicus builds on a constellation of satellites that makes a huge number of daily observations - taking advantage of a global network of thousands of land, air, and marine-based sensors to create the most detailed pictures of Earth. The vast majority of data/information delivered by Copernicus is made available and accessible to any citizen, and any organisation around the world on a free, full, and open basis. Many sectors of the European economy rely on Galileo precise localisation. Copernicus also boosts commercial applications in many different sectors by providing full and open access to Earth observation data and added value information.
  
  The objective of this challenge is to support the development of innovative commercial solutions that leverage the Galileo and/or Copernicus EU Space programmes to : address environmental challenges and sustainable life, to contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal or solutions for the green transformation of our society.

• Buckle up! Engine self ignition

  A simple passive system for rocket engines ignition with limited risks of malfunctions or breakdown. There is no need for an activation energy (pyrotechnic, spark plugs, lasers...).

  Such a system is also well suited to long term storage and has reduced costs. The system is based on a highly pressurized (50 bars min) gas hydrogen tank with a valve and a rupture component (eg membrane). When the pressurized gas enters the combustion chamber, it creates a mixture with the oxidizing gas from the rocket engine already present in the chamber and provides self-ignition.

  Prevent the gas mixture in the combustion chamber from feeding back into the pressurized hydrogen gas tank (for example with one-way valves). The pressure in the hydrogen tank must be regulated to make sure the rupture component properly breaks up. An injector must be placed between the rupture component and the combustion chamber to properly control the hydrogen gas injection speed and pressure.

• Jack in the box - spontaneous structure deployment

  Articulated panels made of carbon fiber / epoxy resin on a non-planar surface at rest can be spontaneously deployed by simply using elastic deformation and curvature. Panels are then aligned using a soft link with a Kevlar wireframe.

   Setting up light deployable structures, masts, solar panels ... in space or on the moon with electric driven systems may be hazardous. A structure with spontaneous deployment is robust, reliable and has a reduced footprint and mass.

  The final shape must be compatible with a given geometric decomposition into panels. The clamping straps to maintain the structure folded must be carefully calibrated. A set-up to free the clamps must be taken into account. The deployment dynamic is not easily controllable.

• Think BIG (Space)

  Invent the next Big Thing in Space : A product/service using big tangible/intagible Space assets.
  No matter how big your spacecraft is, how efficient your payload is, or how powerfull your launcher is. Space is Hard. Sometime size matters, but here we are looking for clever "small" ideas to deploy "BIG" tangible or intagible assets in Space! - BIG Intagible Assets: such as big data, advanced analytics or AI powerfull code, etc.. - BIG Tangible assets: such as in space manufactuing, in space large assemblies, in space autonomous robotic systems, etc.. A Big business start small, what will be your first step in this bIG adventure?

  Space is moving fast. There are multiple area where you can help: - Monitor: what's happening in Space with all the new (increasing) debris in Space - Protect: the conjuntion or collision risk with advanced innovative alerting systems - Manufacture: a new structure directly in orbit, without the launch constraints - Assemble: New large assemblie in space, that you can't launch with current launchers - Assist: a crew or a any strategic asset with robotic autonomous systems. These kind of technologies are already well advanced, please consider them as a close reality. Outcome of this challenge shall provide a viable solution (Profitable) with a clear market traction (Desirability) based on an existing technology (Feasibility) Join us, and make the Future a reality!

• Take cover ! Incoming gravitional waves!

  Electromagnetic waves measurements can track atmospheric and ionospheric evolutions. These gravitational waves can be used for weather forecast, for the observation and / or predictions for earthquakes, tsunamis, ...

  The Earth orbit is filled with thousands of satellites and constellations communicating with each other and with the ground. Radio-occultation measurements in the GNSS signals and in satellites interlinks can track atmospheric (profiles for humidity, pressure, temperature) and ionospheric evolutions (profiles for electronic density). Atmospheric and ionospheric variations can be tracked in real time. Major earthquakes, tsunamis can affect the ionosphere minutes, even hours before actually taking place.

  Real time data must be acquired and quickly processed continuously using autonomous automated systems. At least one satellite must be equipped with measurements devices. A small part of the communication bandwidth must be used for the set-up. The system accuracy will depend on the number of measurements carried out on GNSS receivers (can be ground stations, buoys...).

• Get ready against infectious diseases!

  From satellite images, areas with the highest risk of infectious diseases propagation can be established. Satellite images are analyzed to extract a disease relationship factor. This in turns is used to predict the disease time and space evolution.

  A first image with population density potentially infected by the disease is taken. Using the population density and the disease relationship factor (taking into account environmental and climate factors),where the proliferation risks is higher can be identified. This method is generic and could be applicable to all infectious diseases (malaria, cholera, ...), or respiratory diseases linked to pollution.

  Define from in situ environment a relationship factor for the disease development and its transmission. This factor may be a function of / linked to weather conditions. The more external variables are injected into the factor function, the better the prediction will be. The factor depends on the type of disease : airborne, waterborne, vectors (mosquitos...). Get information on the disease density in an area to improve predictions.

• Adopt a space debris

  We observe a progressive saturation in the most used orbits (most noticeably for the polar orbits, between 700 and 1000 km), being a source of collisions generating space debris that may start chain reaction collisions. Active cleaning projects dealing with space debris (ADR for Active Debris Removal) are appearing (such as the CleanSpace-1 ESA mission) but these projects require significant resources.
  
  Try to figure out a way for anyone (a citizen, collective associations, public or private entities, …) to contribute to a cleaning mission, either from a financial view point or by bringing its own expertise. you may consider focusing on (non exhaustive list): Fab Lab, Open Space Makers, crowdfunding, crowd sourcing, "class actions", actions led by one or more influencer community (such as Pixelwar) … The following digital means can be considered (non exhaustive list) : social networks at large (for example YouTube), blockchain and NFT (Non-Fungible Token), collaborative platforms (similar to GitHub), networking hubs linking individuals (similar to AirBnB), …

• Defy gravity, deploy your business

  Light, stable and reliable mechanical architecture for deployable structures based on tensegrity.

  Delivering structures to space is often constrained by space and weight requirements. For this reason, the use of deployable structures is common. One of the concerns raised by any deployable mechanisms is the risk of failure of the mechanical connection points or joints. The use of this patented deployable tensegrity structure (EP2828928B1) diminishes this risk as the rigid bars or struts of the structure are linked together by a continuous net of cables or tendons, in such way that the rigid bars or struts don't touch each other. The distribution of compression and tension forces allows the tensegrity structure to take and maintain its shape without any direct contact between the bars.
  
  On Earth there are contexts where tensegrity principles can deal with challenges of packing and unpacking structures, e.g. telecommunications (structures to be installed on inaccessible environments); for civil engineering and infrastructures (deployable domes, roofs, bridges) and even for artistic purposes. The challenge is to identify one of the terrestrial applications where these deployable mechanisms can meet the problem requirements. Design a realizable structure, which is easy to use and stable under the relevant environmental conditions of the application. Think how this technology stands out from existing solutions, who are your key customers and what are the key resources you need to bring it to the market? What will be your revenue streams and your costs?

• Save endangered wildlife and habitats in southern Africa

  "Innovative broadband connectivity solutions (Low Orbit satellite, …).
  High throughput, wide area networks (Software defined GSM networks (edge, ...) where outdated spectrum can be licensed."

  Force multiplying technology, that is combining several technologies to reach wider goals, is needed in conservation areas experiencing wildlife crime (and losses of endangered wildlife). Because these areas are rural and remote, then there are important challenges to connectivity - a major barrier to technology deployment.

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10. Energy

Event name

Build-A-Thon Energy

Macro topic

Build-A-Thon Energy was a hackathon for BUILDERS, welcoming all skills to build things you can see, touch and feel - electrical and mechanical engineers and product designers.

As every hardware project needs software skills, the event also welcomed software developers, UI/UX designers, and product managers. All crazy ideas were welcome

The global power and energy landscape is in crisis. The cost of energy has been growing rapidly due to the geopolitical situation. But the whole field has been undergoing changes already before - the way energy is produced, stored and used is going through a paradigm shift. The demand for energy will only keep rising with the influx of modern technology. To keep up with the rising demand, producing more energy might seem to be the only way but saving energy is also a key factor.

Organiser

Solaride

Problem statements

• Reducing the number of cars in the campuses

  Intro
  There are currently about 450 cars per 1,000 inhabitants in Tallinn. How to create multifunctional solutions in the Tehnopol campus that would allow the maximum and variable use of the resources of the campus by different users? E.g how to make journeys greener, healthier, safer for children, exciting / educational. etc.

  There are 200 Companies, 5000 people in Tehnopol campus. How to influence them with various campaigns, systems that they can reduce carbon footprint if they use alternative transport methods. So, they know they also save their money. What data is needed for this? What sensors to apply? What boards of traffic announcements to inform drivers? How to praise non-car users? For example, count cyclists?
  
  1) Challenge description and who is affected by it.

  People drive into the campus by cars. We can make a campaign or competition, leave the car home. How do we know they did it and that the campaign/competition worked? When the campaign/competition worked, how much did we save CO2? How much has a person saved their money? How much is their health better now? How can we tell this them personally?

  2) Why is the challenge important at this time?

  This is one of the difficult problems of an unsolved. The problem of every campus is the plethora of cars. With the construction of the new building, the park area will be lost, and the parking area will be added.

  3) How would success look like? What would happen if the challenge were solved?

  People's awareness is growing, their money remains. Maybe they can sell their car now. And we have the fact that it worked.

  4) Possible/existing directions to find solutions.

  One of the software solutions is what works to count vehicles and pedestrians https://fyma.ai. They use existing camera images. Question is, how to move forward from there, how to influence people? How to implement seamless system?

• How to survive the next 3 winters in the current energy situation in private houses, apartment buildings and small industries?

  How to survive the next 3 winters in the current energy situation.

  - Private house
      - main fuse size 3 x 32 A
      - air-water heating with a heat pump
      - added hourly consumption data

  Problems: How to optimally keep the room warm and the electricity in the room? How to ensure energy security in a private house in a situation where the network does not guarantee it?

  - An apartment building
      - Main fuse: 250 A, Voltage and phases: 3 X 380 V
      - heating from district heating
      - added hourly consumption data

  Problems: How to optimally keep the room warm and the electricity in the room? How to ensure energy security in an apartment building in a situation where the network does not guarantee it?

  - Small industry
      - Voltage and phases: 3 X 20 kV, capacity: 2000 kW
      - heating existing gas boiler/oil boiler
      - added hourly consumption data

  Problems: How to optimally keep production running, so that the building is warm and the electricity is in the room? How to ensure energy security in industry in a situation where the network does not guarantee it?

• Build a power management system that provides the cheapest possible power to a household.

  You are given the tools mentioned below and also some credit that you can spend in stores.

  For simulation of a household you are given a graph of the households usual consumption pattern, however during evaluation the consumption pattern is not exactly the same. You are also given the price of electricity for the next day. The evaluation takes place over two days that in this case both last 5 minutes. Inbetween days you are given the power price information about the next day. You have 5 minutes to input the information into your machine without reprogramming the machine. (meaning you must have a way of inputting information into the microcontroller without reprogramming it, the households usual consumption must also be inputted into the controller in the beginning this way). Your battery utilization will be measured and taken into account when calculating your score. Your power draw from the grid will also be measured and the total energy cost will be calculated and taken into account. If you decide to use a solar cell in your design, a lamp emulating the sun will be placed in the view of the solar cell and will be moved during the 5 minutes that a day will take place. At some point it will be turned off to simulate night time.

• Develop a leakage detection sensor which would use leak detection wire incorporated to pipes to detect pipe leakages

  SITUATION 
  In the current energy crisis, the search of possible areas for saving has become imperative. Different solutions have been proposed to mitigate the problem, scaling from constructing zero-energy buildings to reducing indoor temperature during heating period1 . However, as winter is coming, even a wellinsulated house with indoor temperature set to minimum, requires sufficient heating. Companies providing this heat have to keep up-to-date their infrastructure, which includes maintaining and monitoring the hundreds of kilometers of pipes. Some major pipe failures (pipe bursts) can be detected due to the absence of flow and pressure, butsmaller pipe failures (different leakages on the pipe due to corrosion, welding, pipe joints etc.) without significant decrease in flow are harder to detect and therefore may eventually result in very high losses in long term. Oshino OÜ has developed an universal data acquisition module (Daxr) which helps the majority of the central heating companies in Estonia to gather the reporting process of heat energy consumption to common platform. Unfortunately, the device itself is not able to monitor the state of the pipeline, and additional external leakage detector which would help to detect, and if possible, to localize possible pipe leakages would be very beneficial to the heating companies. 

  MISSION 

  The task is to develop a leakage detection sensor which would use leak detection wire incorporated to pipes to detect, and if possible, determine the location of the pipe leakages 

  EXECUTION 

  Minimum requirements for the leak detector should be: 

  • Voltage: 3 to 3.6 V o Communication protocol: if using Daxr, then preferable is I2C

  • Isolated communication and measuring area from connection area (pipe may suffer from additional welding after the device is installed) o Detection of the leakage

  • Power consumption as per IOT devices (whole system can run on battery support)

  • Casing should be at least IP65 
    
    Additional requirements:

  • Localization of a leakage: from ±5m to ±1m 

• How to save energy in Tallinn city public lightning with smart technology?

  In Tallinn we have over 67 000 lighting points of which 30 000 led lights (45%), but only approx 5000 led lights are dimmed down at night. Street lighting electricity cost has raised over two times during this year compared to last year.

  At first, we need to ask ourselves a question- what is a real problem, we are going to solve? As at the moment it is mainly high electricity costs, we need to start with dynamic lighting control system. Today Tallinn city lighting control has a centralised control with central light sensor or astronomical timer. There is no possibility to take additional data into account (turning on and off lighting depending on weather, traffic intensity, road users, electricity price, reduction of light pollution, etc.) Tallinn´s general plan is to change all old luminaires to LED luminaires (hopefully within next 4-5 years) and install lighting point based control.

  Thanks to LEDs and smart technology, public lighting can solve mainly two challenges: Better consumption and reduced light pollution. Reducing electrical costs and light pollution is useful for everyone (and also for nature), but we should not see streetlighting control system only as a means to reducing expenses, but also as a possibility to achieve better light quality (less dazzle, more lighting balance) for humans and species.

  While managing a light intensity, it is important not to reduce citizens safety. This might mean involvement of citizens and testing on site before setting streetlights intensity levels.

  How to decide if and how much to reduce LEDs nominal power or completely turn it off? Regarding smart technologies- first step is to choose what kind of technical solutions to use and second, also important step, is choosing how to use it.

  But not only streetlighting needs smart control system, also city`s decorative and facade lighting needs it. At the moment, we have several lighting objects, where we can use dynamic and colorful solutions, but control system is different in every case and it makes it difficult to manage and also to use it.

  Also in parks and playgrounds smart conditions create intelligence to the control system and lighting could be adapted to variating environment.

  Another question, needs to be thought through is whether to use streetlights for the creation of new services (different sensors, wi-fi, street furniture, alerts etc). For example people counting sensors could help us to build appropriate control programs.We are planning to start streetlighting control system pilot projects alraedy this year and as a result of these pilots ( different systems are used in 5-6 streets) we are able to get technical description for lighting control system procurement. This event can help us to get some good ideas and to add these to our technical description and future functional lighting based control system.

• How to integrate drones into the smart city infrastructure?

  1. Describe the issue that needs to be solved. Who is affected by the issue?

  Tartu Science Park is participating in a project called Flying Forward 2020 (FF2020), funded by the Horizon2020 program, focusing on urban air mobility (UAM) and the spatial ecosystem of the 21st century (https://www.ff2020.eu).

  The buildathon team should focus on finding a service that would be feasible with current/future drone technology, incl. feasibility calculations of currently utilised service vs drone delivery potential. Two potential future application fields the project is focusing on are:

  • last mile delivery with drones (e.g. delivery of postal packages, medicine, food, etc.)

  • autonomous monitoring and predictive interventions of critical infrastructures in the city environment (e.g. rooftop surface temperature analysis, pipelines, power lines, bridges, masts, solar power stations, etc.)

  Drones are the future of Urban Air Mobility, especially in large cities. Therefore, smaller regions can be essential as a test bed for future applications. Tartu is working on building a living lab environment for testing drone services in the small city environment. Thus there will be infrastructure available soon for further developing the ideas in the living lab setting.

  1. Why now? Describe the importance of the challenge.

  Being first on the market means a lot of risks, not only to the startup team but also to the broader community. Thus, carefully considering possible aspects (research) and testing in smaller areas (validation) is needed to minimise risk and increase potential future success.

  1. What would success look like? What would happen if the challenge were solved?*

  Launching a startup will be the logical next step if the team finds a service with future potential. Tartu Science Park can offer further support after the hackathon to realise this in the business domain.

  1. Are there any possible/existing directions to find solutions?

  In addition to FF2020, several pan-European projects are parallelly focusing on UAM potential (e.g. https://aurora-uam.eu and https://airmour.eu). Thus there is a growing amount of materials available. Additionally, many drone service-related startups are already on the market (use Google search!).

  1. Share any other links to resources, background information, images and/or list of materials that will be available at the hackathon.

  https://www.ff2020.eu/project-activities/deliverables

  https://airmour.eu/deliverables

  https://aurora-uam.eu/resources-downloads

  1. How could you (possibly) support the team after the hackathon? Add a disclaimer about the ownership of the solution (if applicable).

  As Tartu Science Park is also running different incubation programs, the strongest hackathon teams will receive follow-up mentoring support and free training focusing on startup creation, investor relations and business development.

• How to improve the efficiency of traditional fireplaces using retrofit devices?

  Needs and affected segment:

  Traditional wood burning fireplaces have a typical efficiency of 10%

  Almost 90% of the heat generated during the burning of the wood is lost through the chimney by way of exhaust gases

  Additionally, the draft caused by the escaping flue gases brings in colder outdoor air, thereby reducing the household temperature

  Modern fireplaces can have efficiencies up to 75%, this is achieved by employing regulated airflow and ventilation.

  However, a significant number of people in Estonia still use traditional fireplaces as modern fireplaces can be prohibitively expensive to procure and install.

  Why now?:

  • With an increased uncertainty in energy supply chain and associated costs of energy, efficient domestic heating is the need of the hour.

  • More efficient domestic heating will help alleviate stress on the environment with reduced requirement of wood and alleviation of anthropomorphic climate change

  Possible solutions/directions:

  Modifications to traditional fireplaces are not common but inspiration can be taken from modern, high-efficiency wood and pallet-burning furnaces.

  Specifically, harnessing heat during initial wood burning, pre-heating incoming outdoor/cold air and increasing convective heat portion of heat transfer.

  List of Materials available:

  • Heat Sinks

  • Heat-gun for simulating exhaust gases

  • Firebricks

  • Polycarbonate sheets

  • Aluminum/Steel sheets/tubes

  • Pyrolytic graphite sheet

  • DC Fan (100x100mm)

  • Thermocouples

  • DC controller

  • Thermal adhesive

  • Thermal insulation (glass fiber/mineral wool)

  • Additional consumables and screws etc

• How to make autonomous vehicle charging wireless and automatic?

  1. Describe the issue that needs to be solved. Can you relate the challenge to a pain that is felt by many? Who is affected by the issue?

  Today there is no solution to charge electric vehicles automatically. While today the problem is managed by the EV owners by hassling with the wire. The real problem hits when we start talking about autonomous vehicles and we don't have the users around to plug the vehicle to the wall. This is one of the cornerstone problems to solve so autonomous vehicle can move into wider use and help to improve everyone's day to day life.

  2.  Why now? Describe the importance of the challenge.

  We are getting more and more autonomous vehicles around with no real charging solution. This problem needs to be solved now so we can build the infrastructure that supports the wider use of autonomous vehicles.

  3*) What would success look like? What would happen if the challenge is solved?*

  There's still many obstacles for autonomous vehicle to reach wide use, but solving the autonomous charging issue is bringing us one step closer for reaching wider use of autonomous vehicles.

  4. Are there any possible/existing directions to find solutions.

  There are different automated charging concept out there, but looks like nobody have found a robust and well working solution.

  5. Share any other resources, background information.

  We can share some basic hardware and electronics to support up the build.

• How to utilize excess heat that comes from steel hardening?

  1) Describe the issue that needs to be solved. Can you relate the challenge to a pain that is felt by many? Who is affected by the issue?

  Steel hardening is a process that requires a lot of energy (heat). Large portion of used energy is excess heat and is usually vented to outside air.

  At the moment there is no good method to utilize this excess heat. The same issue is faced by factories who do for example thermal treatment of wood, powdercoating, surface coatings, forging.

  2) Why now? Describe the importance of the challenge.*

  With the price of natural gas rising, it is more important than before to maximize the energy we are getting from burning gas.

  3) What would success look like? What would happen if the challenge is solved?**

  Excess heat is no longer vented outside. Value is created from the waste heat

  4) Are there any possible/existing directions to find solutions.*

  Using the excess heat to heat the offices – not practical in the summertime

  5) Share any other resources, background information.*

  The hot air from furnaces has high concentration of salts and therefore it is highly corrosive. The air must be thoroughly filtered before releasing it into atmosphere or sent to heat exchangers.

---

11. Blockchain

Event name

Blockchain Hackathon

Macro topic

the hackathon aimed to build the future of Web 3.0 and discover which application potential the use of blockchain technologies will enable.

From decentralized finance to NFT, from DAO to decentralized applications, the hackathon aimed to explore how blockchain at the interplay of artificial intelligence will revolutionize fields such as industry, finance and even the services and cities of the future.

Organiser

Bwcon

Problem statements

• Smart Cities

  Renewable Energy Distribution and Management for Sustainable Municipalities 

  Problem Description:  

  Municipalities currently rely heavily on non-renewable energy sources to power their infrastructure, resulting in increased CO2 emissions and contributing to climate change. Despite the presence of locally produced renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydro energy, they are not effectively harnessed and utilized, leading to missed opportunities for sustainability. The challenge is to develop an innovative solution that can manage and distribute these renewable energy sources effectively to reduce dependence on non-renewable sources and lower CO2 emissions in municipalities. This can lead to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to energy management and distribution in municipalities. 

  The challenges that need to be addressed in this context are: 

   — to identify the location, or the range of actors involved, so that the generation of electricity from renewable sources corresponds to the consumption in place and time 

   — to design a system to measure and account for the electricity generated and consumed. 

  Objective:  

  Develop an innovative solution that effectively manages and distributes locally produced renewable energy sources in municipalities to reduce dependence on non-renewable sources and lower CO2 emissions. The solution should be scalable, cost-effective, and able to generate revenue for the municipality, while also providing real-time monitoring and control capabilities for energy production and consumption. 

• Predictive Maintenance

  Challenge:  

  Developing a blockchain-based predictive maintenance system for industrial equipment 

  Problem statement:  

  Industries face significant losses due to unscheduled downtimes of their equipment. Predictive maintenance techniques have been developed to mitigate such losses by predicting equipment failures before they occur. However, these techniques require accurate data to provide reliable predictions. The data is typically generated by sensors and other monitoring systems installed on the equipment. The data collected is usually stored in a centralized database, which raises concerns about data security and privacy. Moreover, different stakeholders such as equipment manufacturers, equipment operators, maintenance service providers, and insurers need to access this data. Ensuring data integrity, security, and privacy, while enabling multiple stakeholders to access it, is a significant challenge. 

  Objective:  

  Develop a blockchain-based predictive maintenance system that enables secure and privacy-preserving sharing of equipment data between stakeholders to improve the accuracy of predictions. 

• Sustainability reporting in supply chain

  Transparent and Accurate Sustainability Reporting in Supply Chains  

  Problem Description:  

  Supply chains are complex networks of companies and organizations that work together to create and deliver goods and services. Ensuring that these supply chains operate sustainably is becoming increasingly important for businesses, consumers, and regulators. However, reporting on sustainability in supply chains is challenging due to a lack of transparency, accuracy, standardization, and credibility. This can lead to negative impacts on the environment, society, and the economy, as well as reputational and compliance risks for companies. 

  Blockchain technology has the potential to address these challenges by providing a secure, transparent, and immutable platform for collecting, verifying, and sharing sustainability data across the entire supply chain. By using blockchain, stakeholders in the supply chain can share data in real-time, without the need for intermediaries, while ensuring the privacy and protection of sensitive information.  

  Objective:  

  Develop a blockchain-based solution that enables transparent, accurate, and standardized sustainability reporting in supply chains, addressing the challenges of visibility, data accuracy and completeness, standardization, and credibility. The solution should leverage blockchain technology to provide a secure and immutable platform for collecting, verifying, and sharing sustainability data across t

• NFTs in further education

  Enable and improve the use of digital certificates and credentials in the educational landscape 

  Problem Description:  

  The current education landscape lacks a secure and tamper-proof system for verifying and recognizing learners' achievements. Traditional academic certificates and credentials are often difficult to verify and are not always recognized by employers. Furthermore, the current system does not enable learners to showcase their practical skills and experience, which are increasingly sought after by employers. Therefore, there is a need for a secure and decentralized system that can recognize learners' achievements and provide verifiable credentials that are recognized by educational institutions and employers alike. 

  Objective:  

  Develop a user-friendly blockchain solution that leverages the benefits of NFTs to enable and improve the use of digital certificates and credentials in the educational landscape.  

Conclusion

Defining the problem statements for your hackathon can be a complex task.

As they say: “trash in, trash out”: if you provide a vague problem statement description there’s a high chance you will receive hackathon ideas and solutions that will not be aligned with your hackathon purpose.

The problem statement description must not be too long to avoid discouraging the idea proposals, but also can’t be too short, preventing the participants from receiving key information to work on.

We can help you write your hackathon problem statements, providing the perfect description, deriving from our past hackathon experience.

Get in touch today to talk about it.