[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/slider-comunicacio.jpg” max_height=”130px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”24px||11px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Unitats de recerca” module_class=”ieec-orgs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfb3JnYW5pemFjaW9uZXMiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib2ZmIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”T\u00edtol i data” module_class=”ieec-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Cairo|300|||||||” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font=”||on||||||” meta_font_size=”16px” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subt\u00edtols” module_class=”ieec-summary” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Source Sans Pro||on||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.1em” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”22px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
\u2022 This year\u2019s edition brought together nearly 100 participants (forming 11 multidisciplinary teams) who worked on innovative solutions based on data from the Copernicus and Galileo satellites<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title title=”off” meta=”off” module_class=”ieec-img-container” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Group photo of the participants, mentors and organisers of the 11th edition of the CASSINI Hackathon. <\/span>KIMBcn<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The Baix Llobregat Campus of the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya \u00b7 BarcelonaTech (UPC) hosted the <\/span>11th CASSINI Hackathon<\/span><\/a> on 25 and 26 April, a European initiative promoting innovation through space technologies to address real-world challenges. This edition, focused on water management under the theme “Space for Water”, took place simultaneously across 10 cities in 10 European countries. <\/span><\/p>\n Barcelona served as the representative city for Spain, welcoming nearly 100 participants who formed 11 multidisciplinary teams. These teams worked intensely throughout the weekend in an environment defined by a demanding pace, constant collaboration, and creativity.<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The initiative was driven by a consortium led by the <\/span>KIMbcn Foundation<\/span><\/a>, comprising the Government of Catalonia (through the <\/span>Secretariat for Digital Policies<\/span><\/a>), the <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC), the <\/span>Cartographic and Geologic Institute of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (ICGC), and the <\/span>University of Girona<\/span><\/a> (UdG), with the support of the <\/span>Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya<\/span><\/a>, EETAC, and the PMT itself.<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Finally, the winning project was Blue Pixel, a solution based on Sentinel-2 satellite data for water quality monitoring, capable of detecting indicators such as turbidity, chlorophyll levels, and the presence of algae. Other notable projects included solutions for predicting flash droughts using artificial intelligence, detecting pollution in rivers and seas, and developing real-time flood warning systems, demonstrating the significant potential of space technologies applied to sustainable water management.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_4328-1.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”-9px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Presentation of the first prize to the members of the Blue Pixel project. <\/span> KIMBcn<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=”ieec-about” module_class=”about-ieec” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” global_module=”17324″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px|50px|20px|50px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sobre l’IEEC” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) promotes and coordinates space research and technology development in Catalonia for the benefit of society. IEEC fosters collaborations both locally and worldwide and is an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer. As a result of more than 25 years of high-quality research, done in collaboration with major international organisations, IEEC ranks among the best international research centres, focusing on areas such as: astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and Earth Observation. IEEC\u2019s engineering division develops instrumentation for ground- and space-based projects, and has extensive experience in working with private or public organisations from the aerospace and other innovation sectors.<\/p>\n The IEEC is a non-profit public sector foundation that was established in February 1996. It has a Board of Trustees composed of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya \u00b7 BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The IEEC is also a CERCA centre.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This year\u2019s edition brought together nearly 100 participants who worked on innovative solutions based on satellite data from the Copernicus and Galileo programmes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":44698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[110,102,74,121,104,106,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlighted-news-big","category-innovation","category-news","category-newspace-en","category-talent-news","category-technology","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2022 The winning project was Blue Pixel, with its water quality monitoring solution using Sentinel-2 satellite data, capable of detecting key indicators such as turbidity or the presence of algae<\/span>
\u2022 The IEEC has once again been part of the organising consortium, providing its technical expertise with members participating as mentors and as part of the specialised jury<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/span>The event was held at the <\/span>Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering<\/span><\/a> (EETAC) within the <\/span>Mediterranean Technology Park<\/span><\/a> (PMT), offering participants an immersive experience with the option to work and stay overnight on-site.<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/span>Teams developed innovative solutions based on challenges previously defined in focus groups with experts from the water and space sectors. These local challenges aligned with the three main goals proposed by the CASSINI programme: ensuring efficient and equitable access to water, monitoring and preventing pollution, and anticipating risks associated with extreme events. Within this framework, participants tackled issues such as leak detection and flood forecasting.<\/span>
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<\/span>Throughout the weekend, teams received intensive guidance from a broad group of mentors, including technical profiles, geospatial data experts, water sector specialists, and business professionals. These included Davoud Omarzadeh (IEEC), Antonio Bueno (UdG), Javier Garc\u00eda Robles (Open Cosmos), Roger Oliva (Zenithal Blue), Laura Olivas and Josep Sitjar (SIGTE \u2013 UdG), and Assumpci\u00f3 T\u00e9rmens (ICGC), as well as market experts such as Carlos \u00c1lvarez, Stephany Rivero (KIMbcn), Aaron Wedlich (Novaspace), and Elisabeth Jord\u00e0 (UPC BarcelonaTech). Specialists from the water cycle also participated, such as Alba Cabrera-Codony and Lino Montoro (UdG), Nicole Arnaud de Aguiar and Joan Ferrer Vaquer (LEQUIA \u2013 UdG), Enrique Velasco (ACA), and Carmen Espinosa (Aig\u00fces de Vic). This continuous support was key to validating proposals, guiding teams, and ensuring that solutions met real needs.<\/span>
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<\/span>Furthermore, participants gained first-hand insight into the space entrepreneurship ecosystem through a session on the ESA BIC Barcelona incubator, which highlighted the potential for project continuity beyond the hackathon. Regarding technical resources, teams worked with data from the European space programme\u2014Copernicus and Galileo\u2014supplemented by imagery and data provided by Open Cosmos and the ICGC.<\/span>
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<\/span>The jury, composed of high-level experts including Veronica Tercero (Government of Catalonia), Jordi Berenguer (UPC), Vicente Atienza (Barcelona Chamber of Commerce), Antoni Paz (KIMbcn), Sandra Bonillo (UdG), Jordi Corbera (ICGC), Cristina Protasio (ESA BIC Barcelona), and Alberto Garc\u00eda-Rigo (IEEC), noted the high calibre of the proposals, which made the selection of the winning projects a difficult task.<\/span>
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<\/span>The winning teams were recognised with various prizes, including a \u20ac1,500 cash award and tickets to benchmark events such as the Smart City Expo and the 4YFN at the Mobile World Congress. Additionally, the companies Indra and Airbus offered all hackathon participants the opportunity to visit their facilities and learn about their aerospace projects.<\/span><\/p>\nBlue Pixel: A winning project using European Sentinel-2 satellite data<\/span><\/h2>\n
About the IEEC<\/h2>\n