CASSINI Hackathon: EU Space for Consumer Experience
Tourism is changing. How will you contribute to its sustainability?
The CASSINI Hackathon invites you to develop innovative solutions that will transform tourism, making it smarter, more sustainable, and exciting.
No experience with tech tools or data? No problem!
You are exactly the person we are looking for!
Boost Your Creativity with the Power of Space Technology
Who We’re Looking For
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Creative minds with fresh ideas
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People passionate about the environment and sustainable tourism
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Students, entrepreneurs, designers, researchers
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Entrepreneurs already active in the field
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Anyone with a passion for innovation
Teams are made up of people with different skills, creating a dynamic mix that can turn your idea into reality.
What You Can Gain
Hands-on experience with tools like Copernicus, EGNOS, and Galileo
Cash prizes up to €5,000
6 months of mentoring from top experts
The chance to turn your idea into a business
Key Dates
31 October 2025
Registration deadline
7–9 November 2025
Main hackathon
Prizes
During the Hackathon, teams receive the support they need to develop an idea, research the market, and design a compelling pitch. After 3 days, the judging panel picks 3 winning teams :
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1st winner: 3.000€ and 3 months entrepreneurial support by the Impact Hub Athens team
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2nd winner: 2.000€ and 3 months entrepreneurial support by the Impact Hub Athens team
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3rd winner: 1.000€ and 3 months entrepreneurial support by the Impact Hub Athens team
Judging Panel
Dimitra Niniou
Senior Corporate Communications Manager at Marketing Greece
Dimitra Niniou holds the position of Senior Corporate Communication Manager at Marketing Greece, which she joined in 2015. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of communications, she has extensive expertise in designing and implementing comprehensive publicity and communication programs.
Angeliki Papageorgiou
Events Manager at SETE - Greek Tourism Confederation
Angeliki Papageorgiou is an Events Manager with over 15 years of experience in organizing and strategically designing events that bring together tourism, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She has collaborated with both public and private organizations to create experiences that foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and creative thinking.
Eleni Andreadis
ESG Senior Director at Sani/Ikos Group
Eleni Andreadis is the Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at the Sani/Ikos Group, which owns Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts in Greece and Spain. She is a Harvard University graduate, specializing in environmental policy and media, and has worked as a strategic and environmental consultant in Greece, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In 2009, she founded the non-profit organization “Planet Agents,” which develops experiential environmental education programs.
Kiara Konti
Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader at EY
Kiara Konti is a Partner at EY Greece, leading Sustainability Services for EY Greece. She has subject-matter knowledge and 19 years of experience in sustainability consulting and assurance services, across a series of ESG aspects, including decarbonization, the circular economy, social impact and sustainable finance.
Elena Nikitopoulou
International PR & Communications Manager at Marketing Greece
Elena Nikitopoulou is a graduate of the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting at the Ionian University. With more than seven years of experience in the field of tourism and destination promotion, she has been actively involved in showcasing the contemporary travel image of Greece. For the past five years, she has been working at Marketing Greece in the International PR Department, where she holds the position of International PR & Communications Manager.
Konstantinos Dialynas
Director of the Center for Space Research & Technology, Academy of Athens
Dr. Konstantinos Dialynas is a Researcher in the field of Space Physics and Director of the Office of Space Research & Technology at the Academy of Athens. He serves as Director of Data Integration at the SHIELD Drive Science Center (Boston University, USA), Co-Investigator for the Low Energy Charged Particle teams of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space missions (NASA), a member of the Particle Environment Package (PEP) team for the JUICE mission (ESA), and a member of the Magnetospheric IMaging Instrument (MIMI) team for the Cassini-Huygens mission (NASA‑ESA‑ISA).
Sotiris Milonas
Senior Sustainablity & ESG global Expert | ESG Advisor & strategist | Sustainability Health & Safety Risk Auditor at MSOLUTIONS
Professional experience of 28 years in sustainability, environmental management and circular economy, with a focus on ensuring positive environmental and social impact through structured systems, certifications, audits, and evidence-based performance reporting.
Meet our experts
Even for teams that don’t win, the Hackathon is an amazing networking opportunity. You’ll hear from experts in consumer industries, our sponsoring institutions and investors.
Anastasis Vourliotakis
UX Researcher at the UXProdigy
Anastasis Vourliotakis is a UX Researcher at the UXProdigy, with a background in Social Anthropology and a specialization in UX and Web Accessibility. He has worked with organizations and international brands across industries, carrying out end-to-end research processes. Over the past four years, he has focused on web accessibility, conducting usability testing with users with visual, motor, and cognitive disabilities, as well as performing accessibility audits to help teams build more accessible digital experiences.
Betty Tsakarestou
Associate Professor, Co-initiator & Director of the ADandPRLAB
Betty Tsakarestou is an Associate Professor & co-initiator and Director of the Advertising and Public Relations Lab – ADandPRLAB (launched in 1993) at the Department of Communication, Media and Culture, associate director of the MA in Digital Transformation: e-Diplomacy, e-Campaigning and Digital Law of Panteion University. She has been the Scientific Coordinator of CREATIVE+ the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub and serving as an academic member of the Technology Transfer Office of Panteion University.
Georgios Mendrinos
Co-founder and CEO of Caius
Georgios Mendrinos, with a specialization in computational physics and research experience at NCSR “Demokritos”, is the co-founder and CEO of Caius, a startup leveraging satellite data, artificial intelligence, and computational geomorphology to highlight and explore non-urban regions. Together with his team, he developed druiter, the first public-facing product from a Greek space-tech company — offering an intelligent and dynamic way to explore Greece’s natural landscapes through active collaboration with local communities and organizations nationwide.
Marios Glytsos
Head of Artificial Intelligence of Caius
Marios Glytsos is a PhD candidate at NY University and an Electrical and Computer Engineer (NTUA) specializing in Artificial Intelligence and geospatial data analysis.
At Caius, he leads the development of deep learning algorithms for satellite analysis, mapping, and intelligent user navigation.
He directed the creation of caius paths, the first Greek research project to evolve into a global AI-powered mapping product for trail discovery, and serves as the technical lead of druiter.
Rineta Mitsi
Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director at Goody’s-Everest Group
Reneta Mitsi is the Corporate Affairs & Communication Director of the Goody’s–Everest Group, the largest food service group in Greece. She is responsible for managing the Group’s corporate image, as well as designing and coordinating the implementation of its ESG strategy and reporting.
She has been with the Group since 2000, having served as Marketing Director for all its brands (Goody’s, everest, Flocafe Espresso Room, La Pasteria). Previously, she worked in public relations and advertising with BBDO Group and Publicis.
Richard Alvarez
Senior Product Manager at JobLeads
Richard Alvarez is a Senior Product Manager with over 8 years of experience building data-driven products across the travel and fintech industries. At Omio.com, one of Europe’s leading multi-modal travel platforms, he led initiatives that transformed the user experience for millions of travelers — from introducing smart-ticketing and AI-powered chat systems to optimizing conversion funnels across web and app.
Dimitris Kouletsis
Development Manager at The People’s Trust
Dimitris Kouletsis holds a B.A.Sc in Economics from the American College of Greece. He has extensive experience of the Banking Sector as he has worked for Piraeus Bank for more than 15 years, holding positions in both consumer and corporate credit, as well as in internal audit. Dimitris has also offered his services as a volunteer in several NGO’s and since 2017 he has been working as a Development Manager at the microfinance organization The People’s Trust.
Konstantinos Choidas
Investment Director at Lamda Development S.A.
Konstantinos Choidas brings over 20 years of professional experience in property management, acquisitions, and high-value transactions. He specializes in commercial real estate and marinas, with a proven track record in managing significant investments. Serving as Investment Director at Lamda Development S.A., he oversees Corporate Venture Capital operations and strategic investments in startups across sectors such as real estate, retail, fintech, and tourism. He holds degrees in Economics (BA) and Law (LLB, LLM).
Tiziano Salerno
CEO and Co-founder of archètravel
Tiziano Salerno is the CEO and co-founder of archètravel, an Italian tour operator specializing in cultural expeditions across the world. Entrepreneur and digital strategist, he leads the company’s growth by combining travel expertise, cultural research, and media production. With a strong background in SEO, search marketing, and business development, he builds scalable operational models and premium editorial and multimedia content.
Vassiliki Kotsaki
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & Communication at TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS
Vasiliki Kotsaki has extensive experience in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Communications, with a strong background in Human Resources Management and Customer Service. She holds a BSc in Accounting with Finance from DEREE – The American College of Greece. Since 2017, she has been leading the CSR & Communication Department at TÜV AUSTRIA in Greece, designing strategies for B2B and B2C promotion, corporate image, and social responsibility initiatives.
Christos Kontopoulos
Chief Technology Officer at Geosystems Hellas S.A.
Christos Kontopoulos is the Chief Technology Officer at Geosystems Hellas S.A. (GSH). He holds an MSc in Rural, Surveying, and Geoinformatics Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), specializing in Earth Observation, Remote Sensing, AI and Machine Learning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Photogrammetry and Geospatial Data Analysis. With extensive experience in research and technology development, he has participated in numerous projects funded by EC and ESA, leading technical teams and overseeing system implementations.
Richard Mullane
Head of Impact at Investing for Purpose
Richard is a sustainability specialist with a background blending Impact and Communications, working primarily at Investing for Purpose with entrepreneurs to develop impact strategy and maximise positive measurable outcomes. In 2000 he co-founded a not-for-profit tasked with transforming the quality of housing and communities across the UK. Over the next decade, he delivered initiatives across government, private and public sectors including conferences, published research, over 50 educational films and collaborative interventions to transform planning system processes, resulting in measurable impacts to the quality of housing delivery and community wellbeing.
Anastasia Dimitriou
Senior Communication Executive at SANI/Ikos Group
Anastasia is a Senior Communication Executive with 35 years of experience in strategic corporate communications, ESG and reputation management. At the Sani/Ikos Group, she leads corporate communications in Greece, overseeing multi-layered reputation, media and stakeholder strategies for an internationally awarded hospitality brand with a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation and social responsibility.
Olivia Kotsifa
Founder of SYN Fab Lab
Olivia is an architect, designer, and academic, as well as the founder of SYN Fab Lab, the first mobile design and digital fabrication laboratory in Greece. SYN Fab Lab travels across the country, bringing equipment, providing training, and co-creating original projects that hold meaningful value for each local community. The Lab’s educational and practical approach is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing creative making, autonomous learning, and critical thinking. It is part of a global network of over 2,700 Fab Labs that originated at MIT, sharing a common mission to democratize public access to new technologies and ideas.
George Andreou
ESG Sustainability Manager at Sani/Ikos Group
George Andreou is the ESG Sustainability Manager at Sani/Ikos Group, where he implements the company’s environmental, social, and governance strategy across all resorts. With more than a decade of experience in sustainability, biodiversity management, and corporate social responsibility, he coordinates nature-positive initiatives, sustainability certifications, community engagement programs, and compliance with international standards.
Konstantinos Mavropoulos
Head of Sustainability & Water related Engineering Division Business Assurance TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS - Head of Research & Development Division
The specialized scientific background in the environment, including the lab research experience gained on soil restoration techniques for preserving environmental sustainability – with a focus on farmland and the surface waters, as well as the groundwater – have constituted the steppingstone for a career of almost 20 years at the certification marketplace, with the environmental services constantly being at the forefront of his duties. His expertise encompasses strategic oversight, fostering sustainable growth, and developing customized audit and certification services that meet evolving environmental standards.
Agenda
How to Participate
Visit the website below and register! Get ready to change the way we travel: Register HereBig Ideas Campaign | 13 – 24 October
In anticipation of the Hackathon Weekend, we are thrilled to unveil The Big Ideas Campaign! This two-week-long event is the perfect opportunity to gain some valuable insights, and sharpen your skills prior to the big event!
The best part? No previous space experience is required! Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, this is your chance to engage with the sector and connect with like-minded individuals.
Who
Anyone, Beginner to expert. No previous space experience is required!
When
Sessions from 13 – 24 October
What
Resources, networking opportunities and exciting sessions to get inspired and fuel your imagination
Why
To kickstart your learning and bring your A-game to the Hackathon Weekend (7 – 9 November)
October 14
Regenerative and sustainable tourism
Hellenic Impact Investing Conference (Athens)
Join our panel discussion on regenerative and sustainable tourism at the Hellenic Impact Investing Conference in Athens. We’ll explore how space technologies can drive positive impact in the tourism sector and present the 10th edition of the CASSINI Hackathon, inviting participants and stakeholders to get involved in shaping innovative, sustainable solutions.
October 18
Sustainable tourism
Luxury Tourism Conference (Santorini)
Join our panel discussion on sustainable tourism at the Luxury Tourism Conference in Santorini. Discover how innovation and space technologies can support responsible growth in the tourism sector. We’ll also present the 10th edition of the CASSINI Hackathon and invite participants and industry stakeholders to take part in this Europe-wide innovation challenge.
October 10
Introduction to Galileo & EGNOS
Discover how Galileo and EGNOS, Europe’s satellite navigation systems, provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing services worldwide. This introduction explains how the two systems work together, their key differences, and how they support applications from aviation and transport to emergency response and everyday devices.
October 13 | 17:00 (CET)
Introducing the 10th CASSINI Hackathon
- Welcome remarks
- Welcome by EUSPA, Stefan Schneider
- Insights on Challenge 1 with Desireé Nzongou
- Insights on Challenge 3 with Peter Vanik, EUSPA
October 15 |18:00 CET
Introduction to Copernicus
Gain a practical introduction to Copernicus, Europe’s flagship Earth observation programme. Learn how to access and process satellite data through the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) and openEO platforms. The session will walk you through using the online environment, exploring available datasets, managing data storage, and performing cloud-based analysis — helping you get started with Copernicus tools for research, innovation, or application development.
October 20 | 17:00 CET
How to use the KINEIS kits
Learn how to set up and use the Kinéis development kits to build and test satellite IoT solutions. This session covers hardware basics, data transmission through the Kinéis constellation, and how to access and visualise your data on the platform. Perfect for developers and innovators exploring satellite-connected IoT applications.
October 23 | 17:00 CET
Accessing Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem datasets via the Sentinel Hub APIs
This session will guide participants through practical ways to access and use datasets from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem with the help of Sentinel Hub APIs. You will learn how to connect to Copernicus datasets, integrate them into your own workflows, and make use of advanced functionalities such as on-the-fly processing and visualisation. The webinar is designed for developers, researchers, and innovators who want to streamline Earth observation data access and unlock the full potential of Copernicus for their applications.
Example Ideas for Inspiration
Apps & Services
▪ An app that suggests “green” travel routes with lower carbon footprints
▪ A platform connecting tourists with local producers for authentic experiences
▪ A crowd-monitoring system at popular destinations for better visitor management
Innovative Products
▪ A smart guide using satellite data for real-time weather and environmental updates
▪ A game educating tourists about local culture and the environment
▪ AR/VR experiences that enhance the travel journey
Services for Businesses
▪ A tool for hotels to measure and reduce their environmental footprint
▪ A system for predicting tourist flows for better planning
Meet your host
Impact Hub Athens is part of a world network of a community of impact makers. With a physical space and community for 1000+ social innovators our focus is to build communities for impact.
We promote, enable & accelerate social innovation by providing training, co-working & events space, along with accessible services to anyone committed to developing sustainable solutions for social & environmental issues.
Cο-created with
The Sani/Ikos hospitality Group is a leader in sustainability and sustainable tourism, having received numerous global awards and certifications in areas such as environmental management and carbon neutrality. It is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact. The Group has set an ambitious triple target to be net zero by 2030 – much sooner than the corresponding European target for 2050 – as well as zero single-use-plastic and zero waste-to-landfill by the end of 2024. Over the past five years, Sani/Ikos Group has managed to reduce single-use plastics by 70% across all hotel operations and composts 100% of garden organic waste. In 2022 alone, over 390 tons of waste were diverted from landfill disposal, with the Ikos Dassia resort in Corfu already achieving zero waste. More information about the sustainability initiatives of the Sani/Ikos Group can be found in the ESG Report for 2022.