HACK2BRIDGE: Take on ASD Industry Challenges on October 3 & 4 in Talence!

On October 3–4, 2025, Aerospace Valley, in collaboration with Bordeaux Technowest and Arts et Métiers, is hosting HACK2BRIDGE at ENSAM Talence, a unique hackathon dedicated to the Aeronautics, Space, and Defense (ASD) sectors, as part of the European BRIDGESMEs project.

As we kick off this new season, we are excited to unveil the concrete challenges participants will tackle… and the exclusive prizes up for grabs!

Challenges at the Core of ASD Innovation

Over 24 hours, teams will be asked to design and develop innovative solutions to address one of the following industry challenges:

• Challenge 1: Design a methodology for recycling and reusing drone batteries;
• Challenge 2: Develop an extended reality (XR) simulation system to assist operators in drone assembly;
• Challenge 3: Create robotic or cobotic solutions to:
  • Test oxygen masks under extreme conditions
  • Automate engine sandblasting and painting operations
• Challenge 4 (proposed by Safran Helicopter Engines, partner and member of the final jury): Develop an intelligent OCR technology to automate the reading of engine logbooks or customer maintenance records (up to 100 pages).

HACK2BRIDGE is a unique opportunity to test your creativity and skills against the real needs of major industrial players, while being guided by experts throughout the hackathon.

Attractive Prizes for the Top Three Teams

At the end of the hackathon, a jury of experts and industry leaders, including Safran Helicopter Engines, will select the three most promising projects.

• 1st Prize: A helicopter flight over the Arcachon Bay for the entire team + 6 months of incubation at Bordeaux Technowest.
• 2nd Prize: A VR headset to extend the immersive experience + a pitch training session for your solution or company with Aerospace Valley.
•  3rd Prize: Team tickets to the Cité de l’espace in Toulouse.

On top of these prizes, winners will receive custom-made Aéro trophies crafted by Crazy Metal, a company that designs unique creations from authentic aircraft components.