EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP

EP PerMed Hackathon – the Use of non-invasive Biomarkers within Personalised Medicine Approaches

March 3, 2026

From 03 to 04 March 2026, Oostende (Belgium) was the stage for the first edition of the EP PerMed hackathon focusing on personalised medicine. More than 100 participants from 17 different countries spent two days intensively developing their innovative solutions and ideas.

During these two days, a total of 18 interdisciplinary teams of researchers, innovators, engineers, and clinicians explored novel uses and approaches of non-invasive biomarkers in personalised medicine. Throughout the process, participants were supported by a team of 12 mentors from across Europe, upon which their ideas were evaluated by an independent panel of four expert judges. In addition, the event provided a platform for networking and building meaningful partnerships.

The Hack Days

The event was opened with a short welcome by Ilias El Houari from the organising team (Flemish Government, Department WEWIS). Christine Hasenauer (DLR, EP PerMed coordination team) then provided an overview of the mission, structure, and activities of EP PerMed. Following a brief overview of the agenda and practical details, the teams were invited to introduce themselves and their projects. For the remainder of the day, the teams collaborated intensively on their ideation and the practical development of their solutions under the guidance of an experienced team of mentors. During this time, the participants had the opportunity to network, laying the groundwork for collaboration and knowledge exchange. A brief session was held during which the teams could provide feedback and express the challenges they are facing.

At the start of the second day, the teams prepared their final pitches under the advice and feedback from the mentors. All 18 teams then presented their pitches to the international jury of experts, for which they received three minutes followed by a round of questioning. Upon scoring and deliberation by the jury, a winner was announced. A closing ceremony was held, followed by a statement by Kathleen D’Hondt (Flemish Government, Department WEWIS).

Quotes from our Participants

The EP PerMed Hackathon in Ostend, from March 2nd to March 4th, provided me with a high-energy environment that accelerated both our NeuroSight concept development and strategic positioning. Thanks to the EP PerMed matchmaking, I connected with a strong multidisciplinary team of experts from Greece, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium. Through structured interactions with mentors and peers, we have refined our focus from clinical use toward broader applications in pharma and the European Health Data Space, shaping NeuroSight into a scalable, data-driven solution for proactive MS monitoring.

Dirk Valkenborg, team Neurosight (Professor at University of Hasselt, Belgium)

As a Co-Founder of Astrosit Technology, I had a highly valuable experience during the EP PerMed hackathon. We received mentorship from experts across at least four to five different disciplines, which significantly helped us identify gaps in our project—especially regarding certification requirements and regulatory pathways for entering the European market. Understanding which certifications are critical was particularly insightful for our next steps. We also stayed in close contact with other teams, even collaborating and supporting each other before the hackathon officially began. Overall, it was an engaging, collaborative, and truly enjoyable experience for us.

Yasin Karaca, team Astrosit (founder of Astrosit Technology, Turkey)

The EP PerMed Hackathon was an incredibly valuable experience, bringing together diverse expertise and enabling truly collaborative problem-solving. As a team, we were able to significantly advance our concept, shaping DIA-AID into a more concrete and clinically relevant solution with real potential beyond the hackathon. The interaction with mentors and participants played a key role in challenging our assumptions and strengthening both our approach and vision.

Tobias Larsson, team DIA-AID (co-founder of DIA-AID, Sweden)

Connecting with mentors and peers during Hackathon clarified how to translate an idea into a viable path forward, particularly by focusing on market fit and investment readiness. I learned that a strong concept alone is insufficient without a clear strategy for real-world implementation. Teamwork significantly strengthened the process, with each member contributing distinct perspectives and skills that improved both efficiency and the overall quality of the project. While the idea itself progressed, the most significant advancement was understanding how to position it for investors and bring it toward commercialization.

Orçun Taylan, team PhysioAtlas (PhD candidate at KU Leuven, Belgium)

The Winners

The winner was NeuroSight, an international team led by researchers from Hasselt University with members from Sweden, Greece, and Germany. NeuroSight aims to transform care for multiple sclerosis by using the eye as an indicator of brain health. Current MRI scans of the brain often miss the ‘silent’ progression of the disease.

Second and third place went respectively to SPArSE (more personalised and effective cancer care, led by VITO) and trAIlblazers4 (a Hungarian team from Semmelweis University that uses AI to monitor brain health).

For an overview of all the teams and ideas is available on the Hackathon website

EP PerMed Hackathon website

Impressions

Back to all events