European Defense Tech Hackaton

Press Release
Tilburg, The Netherlands — April 12, 2026

Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments Hosts European Defense Tech Hackathon, Accelerating Innovation in Dual-Use Technologies

From April 10 to 12, Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments BV hosted the European Defense Tech Hackathon in Tilburg, bringing together over 130 participants, including builders, mentors, operators, and investors from across Europe.

Over the course of 72 hours, 15 teams worked intensively on challenges in autonomy, drone technology, communications, and broader dual-use applications. The event provided a unique environment where multidisciplinary teams collaborated closely with experienced mentors from the Dutch innovation ecosystem, as well as Ukrainian experts and active-duty military personnel offering direct operational insights.

A distinguishing feature of this year’s hackathon was the strong emphasis on practical execution. Participants had access to real hardware, full prototyping facilities, and on-site testing capabilities, enabling rapid development, iteration, and validation of solutions beyond conceptual design.

At the conclusion of the event, three teams were selected as winners, recognized for their technical innovation, applicability, and potential impact within the defense and security domain.

The hackathon builds on the success of last year’s edition in Amsterdam, where participating teams achieved significant follow-on development and investment. The 2026 Tilburg edition further reinforces the importance of collaborative, mission-driven innovation in strengthening Europe’s defense technology ecosystem.

Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments extends its gratitude to all partners and contributors, including Arctus Technologies, Keen Venture Partners, The Vydar Group, Tulip Tech, DeltaQuad, DroneAid Collective, Pilotix, and Inflection, for their support in making this event possible.