International ActInSpace 2026 Innovation Hackathon Held in Riga and Supported by EKA

On 30–31 January 2026, the international innovation hackathon Act In Space took place in Riga at the University of Latvia’s House of Nature. The event brought together students, researchers, entrepreneurs, developers, and technology enthusiasts for 24 hours of intensive work to create innovative solutions based on space technologies and satellite data.

A total of 17 teams participated in the hackathon, developing 17 projects within 24 hours. The teams addressed challenges related to space, defence, sustainability, and data utilisation. This year, the event was supported by the University of Latvia, Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Riga Technical University, and EKA University of Applied Sciences.

EKA University of Applied Sciences was represented in the hackathon jury by Dr.oec., Assoc. Prof. Jevgenija Dehtjare, Head of Development of the EKA Scientific Institution, contributing expert evaluation and supporting the growth of space-technology-driven innovation in Latvia.

First place: Braliukai with the HEXSAT project

The 1st place winners were Braliukai with their project HEXSAT. The solution proposes a modular and compositional satellite concept designed to reduce the high costs, long development cycles, and limited upgrade possibilities of traditional space missions.
The winning team received the main prize: the opportunity to represent Latvia at the Act In Space international final in Bordeaux, France, where they will compete with top teams from other countries for four prestigious international awards provided by ESA, CNES, Airbus, and their partners.

EKA Prize awarded to the Icarus team

In addition to supporting the event, EKA awarded its Prize to the Icarus team for their idea focused on improving insurance industry processes. The team proposed using satellite data to enhance how insurance companies operate and make decisions.

About Act In Space

Act In Space is a global innovation hackathon jointly organised by the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA) since 2014. In Latvia, the ActInSpace hackathon was held for the fourth time and this year was organised by ESA Business Incubation Centre Latvia (ESA BIC Latvia) in cooperation with the Latvian Space Industry Association (LAIK).
EKA University of Applied Sciences is a partner of LAIK and participates in the hackathon to support cooperation between academia and the space ecosystem, as well as to contribute to the development of science and innovations in Latvia and beyond.