Key Facts:
The EU sponsored Australia's largest student hackathon for the first time, bringing together hundreds of students and recent gradutes ot develop and apply their skills.
183 projects were developed during the 48-hour event (13–15 March) with teams built prototypes ranging from apps and digital tools to hardware solutions.
EU will award a special prize recognising the project that best contributes to security and resilience, with the winner revealed at the UNIHACK closing ceremony on 23 March.
The EU has sponsored UNIHACK 2026, bringing hundreds of student innovators together to develop new ideas and technologies that can contribute to a secure and resilient future.
Held online from 13–15 March, with hubs in Melbourne and Sydney, 183 projects were submitted for judging which takes place from 16-20 March.
For the first time, the initiative was funded by the European Union, highlighting the growing cooperation between the EU and Australia on security, technology and innovation.
Around 60% of projects (109) submitted applications for the EU Shared Future Prize, which recognises the project that best contributes to a secure and safe future — whether in cybersecurity, democratic integrity, infrastructure protection, crisis response, community safety or any field that involves resilience. The EU Shared Future Prize is judged by European Union representatives, and the winner will be announced on 23 March during the UNIHACK closing ceremony.
EU Ambassador to Australia Gabriele Visentin said: "Our futures are interconnected today more than ever, and security is key: cyber threats, information manipulation, and technological risks affect all of us. This is why the European Union and Australia cooperate to guarantee our freedoms. Young innovators are essential for security and will shape how societies respond to emerging risks. We are delighted to support young people skilling up for the challenge."
UNIHACK Founder Terence Huynh said: "UNIHACK is more than just a competition. Our event fosters the next generation of innovators and technologists, by creating a supportive environment for students to learn and apply their skills to build anything. To have the European Union supporting our event is a testament to how influential hackathons, such as UNIHACK, are to tech ecosystems - not just in Australia, but globally too."
UNIHACK brings together university students and recent graduates from across Australia for an intensive 48-hour period. Teams collaborate to design and build working prototypes ranging from apps and digital tools to games and hardware solutions.
By engaging university students and emerging innovators, the initiative inspires the next generation to develop practical solutions to global challenges and strengthen the skills that will shape tomorrow's digital and security landscape. The partnership reflects the increasingly close relationship between the EU and Australia as democracies committed to a rules-based international order, resilient societies and technological innovation.
The partnership also supports broader efforts to strengthen public understanding of EU-Australia cooperation and to engage young Australians in discussions about the future of technology, security and innovation.
