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Europe’s Defence Push Inspires Young Innovators at Amsterdam Hackathon

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A hackathon held over the weekend in Amsterdam gathered more than 100 young programmers and engineers, aiming to create fast, affordable battlefield technologies to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. As Europe ramps up military spending in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warnings about pulling back NATO commitments, young tech talent is increasingly looking toward defence careers.

Participants of the hackathon, organised by the European Defense Tech Hub (EDTH) and Ukraine’s Brave1 defence accelerator, explored innovations ranging from drones and anti-drone tech to squad radar systems and seismic wave detection for enemy movement. While some attendees arrived with startup ambitions, others were there to network or show solidarity with Ukraine.

Among them was Emil Knutsson, a 24-year-old Swede, who noted a broader generational shift. “Even before the Russian invasion, I was interested in defence. But now, many of my peers are thinking the same way,” he said.

Interest in the event was further fuelled by recent geopolitical developments. According to Benjamin Wolba of EDTH, events like the Munich Security Conference and Trump’s more conciliatory tone toward Russia have created a renewed sense of urgency across Europe to invest in its own security infrastructure.

The hackathon also highlighted how defence innovation is no longer limited to governments or legacy contractors. Attendee Andreas Michaelides, whose team developed a seismic sensor system, said, “Every single one of us can get into this now,” pointing to the democratization of military tech development, especially in software and drone warfare.

Investor interest is also growing. Judge Bram Oostvogel of NUNC Capital, which recently announced a €20 million fund for early-stage defence startups, sees Ukraine as a real-world testing ground for ideas that could plug security gaps across Europe.

“First, you take care of security and safety – not Facebook likes,” Oostvogel said, emphasizing the shift in focus among both investors and innovators as the continent faces rising geopolitical threats.

With more hackathons planned across Europe this year, EDTH sees this as just the beginning of a new wave of grassroots defence innovation.

Germany Closes Military Base Amid Suspected Sabotage of Water Supply

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A German military base near Cologne, known as the Cologne-Wahn barracks, was temporarily closed on Wednesday due to suspicions of water supply sabotage. The closure was prompted by the discovery of a hole in a fence leading to the base’s waterworks. The base employs approximately 5,500 personnel, including 4,300 soldiers and 1,200 civilians.

Military spokesman Ulrich Fonrobert stated that the barracks were shut down as a precautionary measure to ensure that no intruders remained on the premises. Despite extensive searches, no perpetrators were found. While the base has since reopened, the drinking water system remains shut down for safety reasons.

The incident is being taken seriously, with investigations led by police, military police, and military counterintelligence services (MAD).

In a related incident, the security level at a NATO air base in Geilenkirchen, also in western Germany, was heightened due to similar concerns about potential sabotage. However, after checking the water condition, the air base was not sealed off.

These incidents have heightened concerns about possible sabotage activities in Europe, particularly in light of recent warnings from NATO regarding potential malign activities by Russia. NATO has previously expressed concern over possible sabotage, acts of violence, and other hybrid operations carried out by Moscow.