EUROPEAN DEFENCE CHALLENGE

What is the European Defence Challenge

An open competition to attract young talent to the defence sector and inspire careers in defence-related technologies.

It invites students across Europe to tackle real-world defence challenges and propose innovative solutions, combining technical, strategic, and multidisciplinary approaches.

Originally launched under the ASSETs+ project (2020-2023), the European Defence Challenge has continued under the coordination of Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and will carry on in its forthcoming editions within the framework of the Skills4ADC+ project.

Key impact

6 editions (2020-2026)

883 Students
24 Countries
126 Institutions
43% Female - 57% Male
23 average age | 55% undergraduated - 45% graduated

Challenge Procedure

  • One-page proposal submission

  • Development:

    Selected teams advance and expand their idea

  • Awards ceremony in Brussels:

    • Top 3 teams selected
    • Travel and accommodation covered
    • EU institutions visit and meetings with defence stakeholders

Engaging diverse talent

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.

  • Multidisciplinary participation
  • Cross-country collaboration
  • Gender balance
  • Young innovators

Thematic evolution

  • 2020-2021

    Check Check

    I EDITION: Tech sovereignty.

    Host: University of Bordeaux (France)

  • 2021-2022

    Check Check

    II EDITION: Human – machine.

    Host: Polytechnical University of Madrid (Spain)

  • 2022-2023

    Check Check

    III EDITION: Security threats.

    Host: Rzeszow University of Technology (Poland)

  • 2023

    Check Check

    IV EDITION: Defence management.

    Host: University of Pisa (Italy)

  • 2024-2025

    Check Check

    V EDITION: Landmine clearance.

    Host: Royal Military Academy, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 2025-2026

    Check Check

    VI EDITION: From STEM to strategy.

    Hosts: Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini (Italy) and Rzeszow University (Poland)

More information on previous editions:

www.europeandefencechallenge.eu

Subscribe to our newsletter

Follow us on: Linkedin-circled Linkedin-circled

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.