Terms and Conditions

Welcome!

The Blue-Cloud Hackathon 2025 invites you to explore and innovate using the Blue-Cloud platform—a cutting-edge, open science ecosystem designed to accelerate marine research and support ocean sustainability through collaborative data-driven solutions.

Building on the success of previous editions, the event will be fully virtual and marks a unique opportunity to interact with Blue-Cloud's Virtual Research Environment (VRE) , offering seamless integration of advanced analytical tools, access to marine thematic Virtual Labs and Workbenches, and a marine data discovery & access service. This ecosystem is co-designed to empower marine scientists, data experts, and innovators to co-create new digital applications for the sustainable use and protection of our ocean.

About the Blue-Cloud VRE

The Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment (VRE) is a federation of computing platforms and orchestrating computing and analytical services into integrated and managed applications exploiting federated Blue-Cloud data resources as well as external data resources. The VRE is built on the D4Science infrastructure and the gCube open-source technology. In the context of the Blue-Cloud-2026 project, the VRE is expanded by bringing together multiple e- infrastructures computing resources and services for supporting the needs of the users with larger capacity and new services and features.

About Blue-Cloud Virtual Labs

The Blue-Cloud thematic Virtual Labs (VLabs) are the main test beds for users to get the hang of the Blue-Cloud framework The Blue-Cloud VLabs are real-life demonstrators for web-based open science and are open and available for testing by research communities. Each VLab comprises a series of applications for data processing, publishing of data results, and managing computation routines as well as services for collaboration, this way providing open science-friendly working environments for its users to analyse datasets and (re)generate research products. By using cloud-based services, users can deploy a wide range of custom methods and technologies, such as software and algorithms, while benefitting from the applications and the new data types to implement new workflows.

About Blue-Cloud Workbenches

The Blue-Cloud consortium built, deployed and is currently testing analytical pipelines for generating highly qualified and harmonised data collection for some selected Essential Ocean and Biological Variables (EOV and EBV respectively). These pipelines are called 'workbenches'. By testing the workbenches, during the Hackathon users will provide useful feedback on the harmonised and validated EOVs and EBVs datasets from various Blue Data Infrastructures, and on the new tools designed to retrieve, harmonise and integrate data from various sources taking advantage of the IT capacity offered by Blue-Cloud VRE.

Focus on synergies between Blue-Cloud and EDITO

Participants will also be encouraged to explore synergies between Blue-Cloud and the European Digital Twin Ocean platform (EDITO) contributing to its further development while addressing real-world challenges affecting our seas and oceans.

Alignment with the EU Mission

Like previous events, this hackathon supports the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters”, driving innovation to support Europe's goals for preserving marine biodiversity, progressing towards zero marine pollution, and advancing a sustainable and more resilient blue economy.

Who Can Participate

• Marine (data) scientists, modellers, and researchers
• Data service providers
• Blue economy SMEs and industry professionals
• ICT experts and developers specializing in environmental applications
• Students, early-career professionals, and citizen scientists interested in marine data innovation.
• Public agencies, NGOs, and innovators driving ocean sustainability initiatives.

Prior experience with Blue-Cloud is not required. A two-week pre-hackathon warm-up will help all participants become familiar with the tools, services, and datasets available, supported by expert mentors from across the marine science, data and innovation landscape.

Why Participate?

• Drive Impact: Contribute to solving challenges related to ocean ecosystems, climate change, and sustainability.
• Co-Create: Help shape the European Digital Twin Ocean by bringing Blue-Cloud’s assets and services onto EDITO.
• Collaborate: Work with international peers across disciplines in a hands-on, fast-paced innovation sprint.
• Advance Open Science: Promote data sharing, best practices, and inclusive science.
• Get Inspired: Learn from experts, receive mentorship, and join a growing ocean innovation community.
• Gain Exposure: Present your ideas to an audience of stakeholders, policymakers, and ocean tech leaders.

What to Expect

Participants will form interdisciplinary teams to tackle challenges across four key themes:

• Understanding Marine Ecosystems & Species: Using collaborative science and big data to unlock new knowledge about ocean life (e.g., plankton dynamics).
• Supporting Early Warning & Response to Accidents or Natural Events: Leveraging data to enhance ocean risk detection, such as invasive species or extreme events.
• Tracking & Forecasting Ocean Health: Harnessing indicators and predictive models to monitor pollution, climate effects, and ecosystem shifts.
• Co-Creating the European Digital Twin Ocean: Connecting Blue-Cloud and EDITO to support the development of digital replicas of the ocean.

All solutions should utilize Blue-Cloud services—drawing on at least two Virtual Labs or Workbenches—and may incorporate additional open data sources, including from EDITO Data Lake, encompassing data from Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet. Ideas should support the EU Mission Ocean & Waters and the UN Decade of Ocean Science, while boosting ocean literacy and community engagement.

How It Works

Participants will be supported throughout the hackathon by:

• 2-week training and ideation phase (15–26 September 2025): Featuring expert-led webinars, hands-on workshops, and mentoring.
• 3-day hackathon sprint (29 September – 1 October 2025): Teams will collaborate, prototype, and refine their solutions.
• Final pitch event and award ceremony (2 October 2025): Teams present their work to a panel of experts and stakeholders.

Expert mentors from the Blue-Cloud consortium and partner organizations will guide participants in utilizing the platform’s resources effectively and help them shape impactful, technically sound ideas.

Eligibility

• Participants must be aged 18 or older.
• Participation is completely free of charge and open to participants from all European Union (EU) Member States and EU associated countries.
• Participants from other countries can also join, but limitations may apply to the receipt of monetary prizes, as detailed in the Terms & Conditions.
• Individuals residing or domiciled in countries where participation is prohibited by applicable law or EU regulations are not eligible to participate.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the Hackathon is designed for teams that include at least one member with coding and/or programming experience.

By participating in the Blue-Cloud Hackathon, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as to the Gateway Terms of Use of the Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment, which together form the official Blue-Cloud Hackathon Terms and Conditions.

Hackathon Organizing Team

The Hackathon is organised with funding from the European Union’s Horizon programme HORIZON-INFRA-2022-EOSC-01-03 – FAIR and open data sharing in support of healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters – Blue-Cloud 2026, Grant agreement ID: 101094227.

The event is organized by the Blue-Cloud 2026 Project Consortium, represented by Seascape Belgium BVBA, with registered office at Louizalaan 331 bus 5, 1050 Elsene, Belgium. Seascape Belgium is a partner of the Blue-Cloud project responsible for the delivery of the Hackathon (“Organiser”).

The facilitator is An Authentic Pristine Agency SL, registration number: B75511360 (“Pristine Agency”).

The Hackathon will be conducted on the Eventornado hackathon platform, operated by Pristine Agency OÜ, registration number: 16767301.

Dates and Timing

• May 2025: Opening registrations and team formation
• 15–26 September 2025: Ideation warm-up
• 29 Sep - 1 Oct 2025: 3-day hackathon competition
• 2 Oct 2025: Final Pitch & Award Ceremony

The detailed agenda will be disclosed to registered participants.

Participation Process

Registration

Registration is free and begins in May 2025 via the Eventornado platform. Participants must create a profile and complete the registration form.

Team Formation

Teams must have 3-10 members, including at least one member with coding and/or programming experience. Team leaders can add members, and individuals can apply to join existing teams via Eventornado or the #find-your-team Discord channel.

Ideation Warm-Up

A virtual warm-up will take place in September 2025, which will include tutorials, ideation & live sessions, and access to resources for team formation and ideation. Attendance is optional, but strongly encouraged.

Hackathon Days

The hackathon is 100% online. Communication with the organizational team and mentors occurs on the Eventornado platform and Discord server.

Winners Announcement

Terms and Conditions

Participation confirms agreement with these Terms and Conditions and the Gateway Terms of Use of Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment, accessible here

Hackathon Challenges

• Challenge 1: Mapping & Understanding Marine Ecosystems and Species
• Challenge 2: Supporting Early Warning & Response to Accidents or Natural Events
• Challenge 3: Tracking & Forecasting Ocean Health
• Challenge 4: Wild Card: Double up with EDITO!

Across all Challenges, the emphasis will be on leveraging existing services and/or resources offered in Blue-Cloud, across its Virtual Research Environment, and/or offered in the public infrastructure of the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO). All solutions should be linked, wherever possible, to the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters, shaping cutting-edge applications focused on the challenges of European seas. Solutions that expand beyond Europe are also welcome. Participants are also encouraged to utilize other open data or resources, in combination with those offered by Blue-Cloud.

Proof of Concept

During the hackathon, participants will be asked to deliver a “Proof of Concept” (POC) for innovative solutions that could be developed to address one of the hackathon challenges. The Proof of Concept’s deliverables to be submitted are revealed only upon registration and the full process, instructions, and templates are made available on the Hack Guide.

Evaluation

The evaluation process and criteria are revealed only upon registration and are made available on the Hack Guide.

Prize Overview

The 3 best ideas will be invited to continue evolving their solution with financial support.

A total prize pool of up to €25,000 will be allocated to support the further development and promotion of the winning solutions.

The financial support must be applied by the winning teams exclusively towards:

• Further development of the proposed solution (e.g., refinement of the prototype, validation, technical improvements)
• Promotional and outreach activities (e.g., organising a focused event at their institution or within their community to showcase the evolved solution)

The winners commit to using the awarded financial support in alignment with the above objectives and agree to organise a (virtual or physical) event within 3–6 months following the hackathon to present their evolved solution to relevant communities and wider audiences. The Blue-Cloud project will support the organisation of these events; however, the winners are expected to contribute to planning, content, and community engagement.

Travel expenses will be covered for the winners (up to 2 team members) to attend and present their idea at the Blue-Cloud 2026 Conference.

The Hackathon Organising Team will not mediate or get involved in the distribution of prizes among team members of the same team; it is the sole responsibility of each team to decide how prizes are shared internally.

English Only Submissions

English is the only accepted language for the Proof of Concepts.

Prize Eligibility

• The monetary component of the prizes can only be awarded to legal entities established in EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe.
• Prizes cannot be awarded to natural persons.
• Employees of organisations that are partners in the Blue-Cloud project may join a participating team, but such organisations and employees are not eligible to receive a monetary prize if they are directly involved in Blue-Cloud project activities.
• Prizes must be accepted as awarded and cannot be refunded, exchanged, or redeemed for cash.
• The monetary awards will be distributed by Trust-IT, the legal entity coordinating the Blue-Cloud 2026 project, which will also be responsible for covering the travel costs associated with participation in the Blue-Cloud 2026 Conference.

Media Recording and Usage Waiver

During the Hackathon events, live sessions, webinars, and in-person events, photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings will be taken. By participating in this event, you consent to the use of these recordings by the Hackathon Organizing Team and its affiliates for follow-up activities and future promotional materials. These materials may be used in various media formats, including but not limited to websites, social media, print, and presentations. If you do not wish to be recorded or have specific preferences regarding the usage of these materials, please notify the Hackathon Organizing Team in advance.

Privacy

By participating in this hackathon, you confirm your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, along with the Blue-Cloud privacy policy, the privacy policy of Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment, and the Pristine Agency Privacy Policy.

Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons regarding the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies, as well as on the free movement of such data.

Your personal data will be processed to provide you with information about the Hackathon (before, during, and after), and to process your application for participation in the Hackathon.

Processors are the Blue-Cloud 2026 Project Consortium, Pristine Agency OÜ, and An Authentic Pristine Agency SL, who will be responsible for producing, managing, and coordinating the platform and the event, facilitating communication with and interaction between participants, mentors, and judges. Both processors follow the privacy policy of the Controller.

The data will be retained if the participant maintains an account on the hackathon platform. In the event of participant inactivity, the information will be either deleted or anonymized within 18 months after their last user session, and access will be restricted on a “need-to-see” basis.

The personal data processed during the Hackathon will not be shared outside the European Union. In the rare event that data transfer to third-party servers becomes necessary, standard data protection clauses issued by the European Commission will be applied for the transfer of personal data to processors established in third countries.

Liability

The Hackathon Organizing Team has the full authority to modify, extend, shorten, or cancel the Hackathon as they see fit, without incurring any liability to the participants.

The Hackathon Organizing Team retains the right to verify the validity of submissions and their compliance with these Terms and Conditions.

The Hackathon Organizing Team also reserves the right to disqualify any participant or team that fails to comply with these Terms and Conditions or engages in behaviour deemed inappropriate by the Hackathon Organizing Team.

The Hackathon Organizing Team is not liable for:

• Lost, delayed, or misdirected submissions;
• Electronic transmission errors;
• Theft, alteration, or unauthorized access to submissions;
• Technical issues or errors in hardware or software necessary for submission transmission or hackathon procedures, including:
  • Computer viruses
  • Bugs
  • Unauthorized access
  • Frauds
  • Internet or website overload
  • Any combination of the above
  • Other causes beyond the Hackathon Organizing Team’s control

Force Majeure

Neither the Hackathon Organizing Team nor the participants shall be held liable for any failure to perform obligations under these Terms and Conditions if such failure is caused by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods, severe storms)
• War, terrorism, riots, or civil unrest
• Labor strikes, lockouts, or industrial disputes
• Epidemics, pandemics, or other public health emergencies
• Governmental actions, restrictions, or regulations
• Failures of essential utilities or communication infrastructure

In the event of force majeure, affected parties will not be considered in breach of these Terms and Conditions.

Intellectual Property

Participants retain ownership of any background knowledge (i.e., pre-existing code, ideas, or assets) they bring and use during the Hackathon.

The foreground knowledge refers to all outputs developed during the Hackathon period, including but not limited to:

• Code or scripts
• Documentation
• Presentation materials
• Concept descriptions
• Prototypes (including mockups, data visualizations, apps, notebooks, dashboards, etc.)
• Video pitches
• Any optional supporting evidence submitted (e.g., links to boards, additional resources)

All foreground knowledge created during the Hackathon must be submitted through the designated deliverables and will be made publicly available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. International License (CC BY 4.0).

This means that the Hackathon Organizing Team is free to share and adapt the submitted materials, provided appropriate credit is given to the original creators.

This open license ensures transparency and reusability while still allowing participants to continue developing or commercializing their ideas beyond the Hackathon.

The Organizing Team does not claim ownership of foreground knowledge or seek to restrict participants from pursuing future development or commercialization after the Hackathon.

By participating, teams agree to share their work in this spirit of openness and collaboration.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

The Hackathon Organizing Team retains the right to modify these Terms and Conditions, including adding and/or removing any provisions, at any time (including before and during the Hackathon), for any reason and in any manner they deem appropriate.

Contact Us

Email: hackathon2025@blue-cloud.org