EIT Water Hackathon 23-25 Oct 2026 in Sofia organised by Mozajka - Call for Participants

Mozaika is organizing the EIT Water Hackathon 2026 and providing information about the opportunity to participate in the international event, “Water-Driven Disasters in Central and Eastern Europe: Prevention and Management.” 

23–25 October 2026 | Sofia, Bulgaria | Hybrid Event

Climate change is increasingly altering the water cycle across Europe and raising the risk of floods, droughts, and water scarcity. Addressing these challenges requires new solutions based on science, digital technologies, and international collaboration.

EIT Water Hackathon 2026 will bring together participants from different disciplines and countries to work in interdisciplinary teams for 48 hours on real-world challenges from the water sector.

Participants will develop solutions across main tracks:

• Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Protection
• Next-Generation Smart Digital Solutions for Water Management, using artificial intelligence, Earth Observation, GIS, and data analytics
• Enhancing Resilience to Floods, Droughts, and Other Water-Related Disasters

The challenges will be presented by municipalities, water and wastewater operators, and other organisations from the water sector.

The hackathon is open to:

·         students and PhD candidates
·         researchers
·         engineers
·         software developers
·         specialists in data science, AI, GIS, and Earth Observation
·         entrepreneurs and young professionals
·         anyone interested in the water sector and climate resilience

Participants do not need to have prior experience in the water sector. The main objective is to combine diverse knowledge and skills to develop practical and applicable solutions.

What will participants gain?

Teams will have access to real-world hydrological data, satellite observations, and specialised digital platforms for analysing, modelling, and forecasting water-related processes.

Online webinars and team-building sessions will be organised ahead of the event to help participants prepare and form interdisciplinary teams.

Hybrid Participation.

The hackathon will take place in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join either in person in Sofia or remotely from anywhere in Europe. All teams will use digital platforms for communication, data sharing, and collaborative work.

EIT Water Hackathon 2026 is an opportunity to build new connections, work on real-world challenges, and develop innovative solutions with potential for practical application.