News

From Hackathon Experience to Career Development in Earth Observation

From 1 to 3 October 2026, the Space & Water Nexus Hackathon brought together participants, experts, challenge owners and potential end users at CometLab in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, to explore how Earth Observation (EO) data and other space technologies can contribute to solutions for challenges related to water, infrastructure and environmental monitoring.

Organised by dotSPACE, the three-day hackathon gave participating teams the opportunity to develop, test and advance solutions using EO and other data to address real-world challenges. Throughout the event, teams were supported by challenge owners, potential end users and experts, bringing together technical expertise with knowledge of specific sectors and user needs.

The ROOT project was also featured during the hackathon, introducing participants to its work on strengthening career guidance and supporting skills development in the downstream Earth Observation sector. Additionally, hackathon attendees were invited to the ROOT Living Lab kick-off on 26 November 2026 at De Titaan in The Hague. 

ROOT flyers were made available during the event, helping to raise awareness of the project and its objectives among the hackathon community.

The connection between the hackathon and ROOT is particularly relevant in the context of the changing skills landscape of the downstream EO sector. Developing, testing and scaling EO-based solutions requires a combination of Earth Observation expertise, sector knowledge, business capabilities and an understanding of end-user needs. As technologies and their applications evolve, so do the skills required to work with them, creating new demands for professionals, employers and the organisations supporting skills development.

Understanding these changing needs and strengthening the connection between skills, career guidance and opportunities in the downstream EO sector are at the heart of ROOT. By bringing together stakeholders from industry, education and academia, public authorities and civil society, the project aims to support more informed upskilling and reskilling choices and help strengthen the skills base of the sector.

Participants’ experiences highlighted the value of practical learning and professional exchange. Unnat Parande, a member of the winning SATUrN Tech team, described the hackathon as an opportunity to step outside his comfort zone and work in an unfamiliar field. Physicist Valentin Kichukov of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences attended to learn more about data science and explore how satellite information could complement his research. These experiences illustrate the relevance of ROOT’s focus on skills development and career guidance for people exploring new applications of Earth Observation.

The Space & Water Nexus Hackathon provided an opportunity to connect ROOT with a community actively working on the practical application of EO and space technologies to environmental and societal challenges.