On 12–13 November, Sumy National Agrarian University hosted the international hackathon “Geospatial Solutions for Sustainable Development and Land Restoration”, held within the global educational initiative DigiEduHack. The event became an important discussion platform for young professionals, researchers and innovators who united to develop technological solutions for post-war territorial recovery.
A hackathon is an intensive team-work format in which participants create real innovative products within a limited period of time. For Ukraine, the topic of geospatial solutions is especially relevant, as post-war recovery is impossible without accurate data, modern GIS technologies, analysis of land degradation, and modelling of territorial development scenarios.
The event was held online and brought together 9 teams from leading Ukrainian higher education institutions. Participants included representatives of universities from Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Poltava, Bila Tserkva, Kherson, as well as the host team — Sumy NAU.
Over the course of two days, students, lecturers, and young researchers worked on digital tools for analyzing land conditions, assessing the consequences of destruction, and developing comprehensive recommendations for territorial restoration.
Following the intensive work, each team prepared its own project and presented it for the public. Based on the jury’s evaluation, the winners were selected:
1st place — UkrSURT team
2nd place — SNAU, SBTU, OSAU, BTNAU teams
3rd place — KAI, KAI College, HSAEU, PDAU teams
“SNAU is hosting this hackathon not for the first time — and we do it with a clear purpose: to hear the voice of young people, to see their ideas, and to work them through together for integration into post-war recovery processes. This is not just an educational or scientific project — it is our life, our future, which we are shaping today,” said the hackathon organizer, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, and Head of the Department of Geodesy and Land Management at SNAU, Nataliia Kapinos.
Holding an international hackathon at Sumy National Agrarian University reaffirmed the importance of joint initiatives for the development of geospatial technologies in Ukraine. The event demonstrated the high intellectual potential of Ukrainian youth and opened new opportunities for cooperation between universities. SNAU expresses sincere gratitude to all partners, participants, and the entire academic community for their engagement and contribution to creating solutions that matter for the country’s recovery.
