Pan-European EUvsVirus hackathon

On 24 and 26 April 2020, the European Commission organised the Pan-European EUvsVirus Hackathon, led by the European Innovation Council, to develop innovative solutions to COVID-19 challenges. Approximately 20,900 people, from across the European Union and beyond, joined, including members of civil society, innovators, partners, and investors. Over 2,160 solutions were submitted to the Hackathon EUvsVirus jury, 117 of which were withheld. The Brussels cluster of the  lifetech.brussels(hub.brussels) health ecosystem partnered with the event and was selected as the Belgian national commissioner, while Barbara Trachte, the State Secretary of the Brussels-Capital Region responsible for Scientific Research, served as ambassador on behalf of our country.

Belgium was well-represented at the event, with 630 participants. Among the 117 solutions that were withheld by the jury, 9 solutions were co-founded by Belgians.

At the end of May, the European Commission also organised a Matchathon for the winning teams, to connect them with the beneficiaries to help them secure funding.