Bucharest

Welcome to NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019 in Bucharest!

For the third year in a row, Bucharest will take part in the largest global hackathon! Join us on October 19-20 for the 2019 International Space Apps Challenge!

What is NASA Space Apps Challenge?

Space Apps is a 48 hours global hackathon, engaging thousands of problem solvers each year across the globe. The event embraces collaborative problem solving with a goal of producing relevant open-source solutions to address global needs applicable to both life on Earth and life in space.

You can take a look at the International 2018 Space Apps Summary, to see how it went last year. As for NASA SpaceApps Challenge in Bucharest, here is our story from 2019:

And the one from 2018:

Who can participate in the hackathon?

Coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, students, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, and problem solvers of all types, everyone enthusiastic about space, this event is for you!

The event is free and open to the public. Participation is limited to a number of 100 participants.

Gather a team of people with a diverse background, choose your challenge and register. Over 24 hours you will work together to develop an innovative solution to your challenge (be it a website, a mobile app, a concept or a hardware prototype). Your team will present the solution to a jury of experts. The best solutions will then compete on a global level!

Here are some of thereasons why you should participate. Come join in this collaborative, problem-solving, open innovation competition!

Follow us on the Bucharest event’s page, on our national Facebook, or join our national Facebook group.

Join us on October 19-20 for the second NASA Space Apps challenge in Bucharest!

How are we going to challenge you this year?

2019 edition has 5 major themes. These categories are:

• Earth’s Oceans
• Our Moon
• Planets Near And Far
• To The Stars
• Living In Our World

The detailed categories for each of them are here, so make your choice from the generous topics offer.

Location details:

The event is brought to you at national level byDigital Transformers, with the local support ofDifine PR.

Please bring your laptop and charger, mouse and mouse-pad, notebook, pen and pencils, comfortable clothes, headphones and music, glasses and medication if necessary, whatever else you might need to complete your project including installed software.

Contact us if you want to volunteer or to support us as a partner or sponsor. You are more than welcome to join us.

Our partners and supporters:

Partners:Thales,IBM, Techcelerator,Armada collection byNemira,Learning Network,Frufru,FoodPanda,Hollywood Multiplex Bucuresti Mall,ALL Promotion,M Flower Lab

Community partners:EUROAVIA, Voluntari pentru Idei si Proiecte-VIP,AIESEC,Școala IT,More Networking

Media partners:Știință și Tehnică, Asociația Română pentru Smart City,Cluj.com

Inspirational speakers:

• Cristian Român, Senior editor @Știintă & Tehnică magazine - "The Revolution Continues"
• Nansi Lungu, Consumers' Behaviour Coordinator@Bitdefender and lecturer at Titu Maiorescu University
• Andrei Tudor, the youngest robots builder in Romania

Storytellers

Official blogger - Dan Dragomir - www.computerblog.ro

Cristina Negraru - content producer & official storyteller

Jury members:

• Bogdan-Andrei NICULAE - Thales. He is an Engineering Manager with a strong background in Software Development and Configuration Management. Responsible for the Thales Alenia Space Engineering Business Unit in Thales Systems Romania.
• Vlad Zamfirescu, IBM, is a Senior Solution Architect focusing primarily on Cognitive Computing and Advanced Analytics engagements. He is part of the Worldwide Advanced Analytics Center of Competence within the global IBM organization, helping clients break new ground using machine learning and cognitive computing technologies as a hands-on practitioner with multiple delivered projects for some of the biggest enterprises across various industries. He is also responsible for providing technical leadership to our international clients and IBM practitioners alike through the implementation of highly-scalable reference architectures comprising of innovative methodologies, as well as contributing to technical assetization initiatives within IBM.
• Dipl. Ing. Iulian Emil Juhasz - New Space Products Explorer. Iulian is an Aerospace Engineering graduate (UPB) specialized in Aerospace Propulsion Systems. He worked for 6 years as an aeronautical stress engineer being involved in many well known aeronautical programs such as Airbus A380, A350, Bombardier CSeries, Embraer KC390. Since 3 years he is part of HPS Romania (High-Performance Structures) where he is the Section Head of the Technology Development & Project Management Section, being involved in the development of new products and technologies for the space industry (mainly satellites components). He is active mainly in the structures, thermal control, and antennas fields, all for future satellite programs for ESA, ROSA and other commercial customers. He has been part of space missions such as JUICE, Proba-3, BIOMASS, METOP, and Sentinel-4. When offered the chance, Iulian likes to promote the space field and to show the world all the benefits the space industry is offering here on Earth.
• Cristian ROMÂN is a senior editor of the Știintă & Tehnică magazine, where he started in 1992. He is a graduate of the Aerospace Engineering faculty. Between 2008 and 2012 he produced programs targeting the science fans at TVRM. In 2003, respectively 2006 he received the UNESCO Romania CNR Prize for Science Journalism, in the written press section. He published the book The Universe - the last adventure.
• Ulpia BOTEZATU - research engineer at the Romanian Space Agency since 2012. Since 2007 she has been active in research and education as a university assistant and research assistant both in Romania and in the United States of America, Germany and the United Kingdom. Her main positions were related to critical infrastructure security at urban, national and European level. She worked at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and in 2016 she graduated from the National Defense College, the National Intelligence Academy, as well as the courses of the European Security Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Currently, she is a ROSA researcher and assistant of the project manager of SCIPRO - Space Critical Infrastructure at ROSA, a project that aims to develop research capabilities in the sphere of critical spatial infrastructure protection. She is a representative of Romania in the NATO-SCI Working Group, which aims at developing the concept of resilience in NATO operations, as well as responsible at the International Astronautics Academy in Working Group 5.13 - Space as Critical Infrastructure
• Cristian Dascălu - Gapminder VC Fund Partner actively investing & accelerating startups in Eastern Europe, open innovation expert & advisor in digital transformation. As an entrepreneur, Cristian co/founded a series of businesses and major projects aimed at the development of the tech startups and digital innovation area such as GapMinder VC, ClujHUB, Techcelerator, Digital Transformers, TechFest, TEDxCluj, Creative Industries Cluster, NASA Space Apps Challenge Romania, and others. Starting in 2012, as a founder of ClujHUB - second co-working space in Romania, Cristian is a key contributor to the startup community. At the European level, he is a co-founder of the Internet Innovation Hubs Network, with the HQ in Brussels. With a Master in Economics (specialization Management & Marketing) and strong capabilities in sales, management, and business development.

Mentors

• IBM
• Thales
• Sorin Badea, radio producer @Radio Guerrilla
• Diana Nițescu, Petrom Olympics