European Defence Challenge 5th edition
LAUNCH EVENT
Join us and discover all the details!
30th April, 10:00-11:15 CET
YouTube Streaming
1st POSITION
Emre Kursat Kaya and Miguel Garrido Moreno from the College of Europe
The European Defence Challenge (EDC) is an open competition to attract young talent to the Defence industry and to encourage them to initiate a career in defence-related technologies. EDC invites European students to think about a current problem in the domain of Defence and propose a solution.
TOPIC of the 5th edition:
“Towards a Safer Tomorrow: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Landmine Clearance and Security Enhancement”
HOSTED BY: Royal Military Academy (RMA), Belgium
Partners of the 5th edition:
Previous editions:
4th Edition (2023)
TOPIC: “Leading through Complexity: Effective Management in Defence Environment”
ORGANIZER: University of Pisa
FIRST POSITION
Camille Haaby, from Bordeaux Institute of Technology, & Camille Stephan, from Sciences Po Strasbourg.
Their proposal, “AI-gility, Command and Control Agility through AI-Assisted Decision Making” explores how AI-gility stands as a pivotal solution to the evolving challenges faced by military decision makers, where adaptability, efficiency, and ethical considerations converge to define the future of command and control in the military.
- Download the essay here.
SECOND POSITION · EX AEQUO
Borre Van de walle & Lucie Vandemaele, from UCLouvain – Louvain School of Management, KU Leuven.
Their proposal “Commanding HQ Integrator (CHI)” aims to provide a data-driven solution to assist the armed forces in resource management and mission planning. It enables leaders and managers to interact with their assets and to gain useful insights into all levels of operations.
- Download the essay here.
Filip Kubik & Marcin Krysiak, from Rzeszow University of Technology.
Their proposal “The utilization of artificial intelligence in the process of intercepting rocket projectiles” considers the creation of a self-contained decision-making system based on previously analyzed data by computer can significantly contribute to more efficient operations in threatening situations..
- Download the essay here.
THIRD POSITION
Gian Marco Comparini & Pietro del Debbio, from University of Pisa.
Their proposal “PACE: A data-driven framework for decision making” aims to prioritize interventions to enable a more efficient allocation of resources and ensure the success of the intervention.
- Download the essay here.
Launch event
April 11, 2023
3rd Edition (2022-2023)
TOPIC: Security, threats identification and defence strategies.
ORGANIZER: Rzeszow University of Technology
FIRST POSITION
Antoine Lebret & Sarah Joron, from Sciences Po Lille, Master Strategy, Economic intelligence, and Risk Management (SIGR)
Their proposal, “SEA-BER. Strengthening European autonomy, Building European resilience”, aims to improve the European response by proposing the development of SEA-BER software to map cables and the damage that can occur. This tool should help to reduce accidents, the main source of cable damage, but also to identify and prevent the threats surrounding the physical materialization of cyber.
2nd POSITION
Stefan Ursu & Jan Beuchel, from RWTH Aachen University.
Their proposal, “The European Reconnaissance Space-based Infrastructure: ERSI-1”, is a concept project for a European early threat detection project which proposes the usage of innovative nanosatellite technology. Framed within the context of previous projects and the necessity of the improvement of defense satellite technology, they argue that possession of a modern fleet of resilient satellites will allow the EU to efficiently address threats and generally improve its security capabilities.
3rd POSITION
Antonio Ferrándiz & Jesús Eguino , from Centro Universitario de la Guardia Civil – Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Their proposal, “The use of statistical methods and big data to fight organized crime”, aims to introduce a software which classifies the information in terms of danger and which is able to be configurable for different organizations. It should be capable of analysing general and specific searches, that way the users have infinite
posibilities in terms of being provided with information for all the different cases.
YOUNG STUDENT AWARD
Abigail Machaj & Alicja Siekanowicz, from Rzeszów University of Technology.
Their proposal, “Securing messages using heat”, wants to introduce an idea of the concept for encrypting messages using heat. Such idea can have a significant impact on the future safety of the military as well as civil facilities. The purpose is to keep the message flow in check, protecting society from injustice they don’t deserve.
Awards Ceremony
March 28, 2023
Webinar with experts
December 12, 2022
Launch event
October 3, 2022
Inauguration
June 15, 2022
Seminar “Introduction to cybersecurity I”
Madrid, June 15, 2022
Seminar “Introduction to cybersecurity II”
Madrid, June 15, 2022
2nd Edition (2021-2022)
TOPIC: Remote everything? To what extent can unmanned assets interact with humans in the field for defence operations?
ORGANIZER: Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM)
FIRST POSITION
Andreas Wouters & Nathan Prakopetz, from the Royal Military Academy (Brussels).
Their proposal, “Autonomy in Air Defence Systems”, analyses the problematic characteristics of hypersonic missiles and how these missiles manage to evade air defence systems.
FINALISTS
Susanna Hein & Emilien Maquaire, from Sciences Po Lille (France).
Their proposal, “Human-Robot teaming Research Initiative for a Combat Aerial Network (HURRICANE)”, outlines the opportunities and challenges that robotics and artificial intelligence technologies offer for future air combat by indicating how we can gain an advantage through human machine teams.
FINALISTS
Anaëlle Salamon from Sciences Po Lille (France) & Sinan Bekka from University of Edinburgh (UK).
Their proposal is a three-step development program of European Defensive Autonomous Submarine Systems (EURO DASS) which will follow strict principles and hopefully will set a precedent for the making of unmanned systems in defence operations.
YOUNG STUDENT AWARD
Carlos Daniel Farias, from the University of Cadiz (Spain), & Carlos Thurn, from Nordakademie (Germany).
Their proposal “Can I trust you? An AI for secure, authenticated communication” aims to create a method of secure communication between two or more individual parties in order to allow interaction of human and machine for the application in the defence field. In order to achieve this, a combination of encryption and identity authentication will be implemented.
Awards Ceremony:
Webinar with experts:
2nd Edition Launch Event
Engagement of talents through the European Defence Challenge, Liga Baltina & Mateo Burgos
Anne Fort, Head of Unit, Defence Industry and Market Policy at European Commission
The guidelines of the Challenge, Mateo Burgos from the UPM organizer of the II edition
Some tips with the I edition winners Matej Pastir & Radka Fléglová, and Sami Makki, Science Po Lille
Maurizio Ferrante, Head of Training and Knowledge Management at Leonardo.
Vice Admiral Manuel A. Martínez, Director of Engineering & Naval Constructions, Spanish Navy
Andrzej Rybka, Managing Director of the Aviation Valley Association
1st Edition (2020-2021)
TOPIC: Which technologies and technology bricks are particularly relevant for Europe’s sovereignty in defence and security?
ORGANIZER: University of Bordeaux
Why a challenge?
What will the students be asked to do?
What is the subject to be adressed?
What is the objective of the challenge?
Awards ceremony:
Winners of the 1st edition:
The European Defence Challenge was established under the ASSETs+ project (2020-2023)
Follow us on:
European Defence Challenge V edition
LAUNCH EVENT
Join us and discover all the details!
30th April, 10:00-11:15 CET
YouTube Streaming
The European Defence Challenge (EDC) is an open competition to attract young talent to the Defence industry and to encourage them to initiate a career in defence-related technologies. EDC invites European students to think about a current problem in the domain of Defence and propose a solution.
TOPIC of the V edition:
“Towards a Safer Tomorrow: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Landmine Clearance and Security Enhancement”
HOSTED BY: Royal Military Academy (RMA), Belgium
Timeline
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
All undergraduate or graduate students from all faculties in European Universities, vocational education and training centres and other institutions dedicated to education.
Participants will be welcome to attend several short webinars that will help them to understand the importance of improving security and write good essays.
GUIDELINES
Register here.
Write a 1 page proposal (500-600 words) that present a new usage or suggest improvements on a new technology, and submit it to: challenge@assets-plus.eu
If your proposal is selected for the second stage of the Challenge, you will be asked to expand the description to 10 pages (5000-6000 words) which should be a development of the previously submitted proposal
IMPORTANT: Students are strongly encouraged to team up in pairs, finding a partner in a different university or country. Teams will get an additional point in the final score.
A fresh view is valued. It is required to include not only technological but also economic, environmental, social, ethical and/or political analysis within the proposal.
BENEFITS
-Participation in seminars and webinars with industry
-Special awards for the best teams
-Public recognition on the EDC webpage and social networks
-Certificate of participation
The 3 FINALIST TEAMS will be announced on our web & social media and will participate in the awards ceremony.
SPECIAL MENTION TO YOUNG PARTICIPANTS (the best essay up to 20 years old).
PRIZES
1st position:
– One day visit of EU institutions + meetings with Defence stakeholders in Brussels.
– Meeting with HR manager about CV and job interview.
– Technology related gift
– Diploma
2nd position:
– Meeting with HR manager about CV and job interview.
– Technology related gift
– Diploma
3rd position:
– Meeting with HR manager about CV and job interview.
– Diploma
Young student award:
– Technology related gift
– Diploma
Partners of the V edition:
Previous editions:
IV Edition (2023)
TOPIC: “Leading through Complexity: Effective Management in Defence Environment”
ORGANIZER: University of Pisa
FIRST POSITION
Camille Haaby, from Bordeaux Institute of Technology, & Camille Stephan, from Sciences Po Strasbourg.
Their proposal, “AI-gility, Command and Control Agility through AI-Assisted Decision Making” explores how AI-gility stands as a pivotal solution to the evolving challenges faced by military decision makers, where adaptability, efficiency, and ethical considerations converge to define the future of command and control in the military.
- Download the essay here.
SECOND POSITION · EX AEQUO
Borre Van de walle & Lucie Vandemaele, from UCLouvain – Louvain School of Management, KU Leuven.
Their proposal “Commanding HQ Integrator (CHI)” aims to provide a data-driven solution to assist the armed forces in resource management and mission planning. It enables leaders and managers to interact with their assets and to gain useful insights into all levels of operations.
- Download the essay here.
Filip Kubik & Marcin Krysiak, from Rzeszow University of Technology.
Their proposal “The utilization of artificial intelligence in the process of intercepting rocket projectiles” considers the creation of a self-contained decision-making system based on previously analyzed data by computer can significantly contribute to more efficient operations in threatening situations..
- Download the essay here.
THIRD POSITION
Gian Marco Comparini & Pietro del Debbio, from University of Pisa.
Their proposal “PACE: A data-driven framework for decision making” aims to prioritize interventions to enable a more efficient allocation of resources and ensure the success of the intervention.
- Download the essay here.
Launch event
April 11, 2023
III Edition (2022-2023)
TOPIC: Security, threats identification and defence strategies.
ORGANIZER: Rzeszow University of Technology
FIRST POSITION
Antoine Lebret & Sarah Joron, from Sciences Po Lille, Master Strategy, Economic intelligence, and Risk Management (SIGR)
Their proposal, “SEA-BER. Strengthening European autonomy, Building European resilience”, aims to improve the European response by proposing the development of SEA-BER software to map cables and the damage that can occur. This tool should help to reduce accidents, the main source of cable damage, but also to identify and prevent the threats surrounding the physical materialization of cyber.
2nd POSITION
Stefan Ursu & Jan Beuchel, from RWTH Aachen University.
Their proposal, “The European Reconnaissance Space-based Infrastructure: ERSI-1”, is a concept project for a European early threat detection project which proposes the usage of innovative nanosatellite technology. Framed within the context of previous projects and the necessity of the improvement of defense satellite technology, they argue that possession of a modern fleet of resilient satellites will allow the EU to efficiently address threats and generally improve its security capabilities.
3rd POSITION
Antonio Ferrándiz & Jesús Eguino , from Centro Universitario de la Guardia Civil – Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Their proposal, “The use of statistical methods and big data to fight organized crime”, aims to introduce a software which classifies the information in terms of danger and which is able to be configurable for different organizations. It should be capable of analysing general and specific searches, that way the users have infinite
posibilities in terms of being provided with information for all the different cases.
YOUNG STUDENT AWARD
Abigail Machaj & Alicja Siekanowicz, from Rzeszów University of Technology.
Their proposal, “Securing messages using heat”, wants to introduce an idea of the concept for encrypting messages using heat. Such idea can have a significant impact on the future safety of the military as well as civil facilities. The purpose is to keep the message flow in check, protecting society from injustice they don’t deserve.
Awards Ceremony
March 28, 2023
Webinar with experts
December 12, 2022
Launch event
October 3, 2022
Inauguration
June 15, 2022
Seminar “Introduction to cybersecurity I”
Madrid, June 15, 2022
Seminar “Introduction to cybersecurity II”
Madrid, June 15, 2022
II Edition (2021-2022)
TOPIC: Remote everything? To what extent can unmanned assets interact with humans in the field for defence operations?
ORGANIZER: Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM)
FIRST POSITION
Andreas Wouters & Nathan Prakopetz, from the Royal Military Academy (Brussels).
Their proposal, “Autonomy in Air Defence Systems”, analyses the problematic characteristics of hypersonic missiles and how these missiles manage to evade air defence systems.
FINALISTS
Susanna Hein & Emilien Maquaire, from Sciences Po Lille (France).
Their proposal, “Human-Robot teaming Research Initiative for a Combat Aerial Network (HURRICANE)”, outlines the opportunities and challenges that robotics and artificial intelligence technologies offer for future air combat by indicating how we can gain an advantage through human machine teams.
FINALISTS
Anaëlle Salamon from Sciences Po Lille (France) & Sinan Bekka from University of Edinburgh (UK).
Their proposal is a three-step development program of European Defensive Autonomous Submarine Systems (EURO DASS) which will follow strict principles and hopefully will set a precedent for the making of unmanned systems in defence operations.
YOUNG STUDENT AWARD
Carlos Daniel Farias, from the University of Cadiz (Spain), & Carlos Thurn, from Nordakademie (Germany).
Their proposal “Can I trust you? An AI for secure, authenticated communication” aims to create a method of secure communication between two or more individual parties in order to allow interaction of human and machine for the application in the defence field. In order to achieve this, a combination of encryption and identity authentication will be implemented.
Awards Ceremony:
Webinar with experts:
II Edition Launch Event
Engagement of talents through the European Defence Challenge, Liga Baltina & Mateo Burgos
Anne Fort, Head of Unit, Defence Industry and Market Policy at European Commission
The guidelines of the Challenge, Mateo Burgos from the UPM organizer of the II edition
Some tips with the I edition winners Matej Pastir & Radka Fléglová, and Sami Makki, Science Po Lille
Maurizio Ferrante, Head of Training and Knowledge Management at Leonardo.
Vice Admiral Manuel A. Martínez, Director of Engineering & Naval Constructions, Spanish Navy
Andrzej Rybka, Managing Director of the Aviation Valley Association
I Edition (2020-2021)
TOPIC: Which technologies and technology bricks are particularly relevant for Europe’s sovereignty in defence and security?
ORGANIZER: University of Bordeaux
Why a challenge?
What will the students be asked to do?
What is the subject to be adressed?
What is the objective of the challenge?
Awards ceremony:
Winners of the 1st edition:
The European Defence Challenge was established under the ASSETs+ project (2020-2023)
Follow us on: