Young Programmers Flock to Amsterdam Hackathon to Develop Battlefield Tech for Ukraine
A weekend hackathon in Amsterdam, focused on creating fast and cost-effective battlefield solutions for Ukraine, attracted over 100 young programmers and engineers. Many participants noted that Europe’s growing focus on military rearmament had sparked their interest in defense-related careers.
European nations have been ramping up military spending, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States may no longer guarantee their security as it has since World War II. As a result, some young professionals who might have pursued careers in finance or artificial intelligence are now exploring opportunities in military technology.
"I've been interested in defense for a long time, even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine," said 24-year-old Swede Emil Knutsson. "And I can definitely sense a shift in how my generation views it."
The hackathon, organized by the privately-owned European Defense Tech Hub (EDTH) in collaboration with Ukraine’s state-backed defense accelerator Brave1, encouraged participants to develop innovative military technologies. While Knutsson’s team worked on an affordable "squad radar" system to aid Ukrainian soldiers, many other teams focused on drones or anti-drone technology. Some attendees sought funding for startup ideas, while others joined to network and support Ukraine.
According to Benjamin Wolba of Germany-based EDTH, which launched its first event last June and plans several more across Europe this year, interest in defense tech has surged—particularly after the Munich Security Conference in February.
"The uncertainty around U.S. support and the realization that Europe needs to rearm are driving people to get involved," Wolba said.
Andreas Michaelides, whose team developed a seismic wave-based system for detecting enemy movement, emphasized that defense innovation is no longer limited to large corporations.
"Anyone can enter this space now," he said, pointing to advancements in software and drone warfare.
The hackathon’s judging panel included Bram Oostvogel of NUNC Capital, which recently announced a €20 million ($22 million) investment in early-stage defense ventures using Ukraine as a testing ground. Oostvogel noted that European investors, banks, and venture capital firms are increasingly taking the defense sector seriously.
