ESA Invites Students to Space Technology and Commercialisation Workshop in Belgium

The international AI and robotics hackathon “RobotHack 2026” will take place on 24–28 November, bringing together students, technology enthusiasts and professionals from various fields to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges. VILNIUS TECH students are invited to put their ideas into action, gain practical experience and compete for a total prize pool of €8,000. Registration is open until 19 November. RobotHack 2026 offers students an opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice, collaborate with people from different backgrounds and explore innovative solutions using artificial intelligence, robotics and automation technologies. This year's hackathon will focus on three main challenge areas: Logistics – developing smarter and more efficient solutions for moving goods, resources and autonomous systems. Humans + Robots – exploring technologies that improve interaction and collaboration between people and robots. Smart Cities – using artificial intelligence, robotics and connected technologies to address urban and public-sector challenges. Open to students from all academic backgrounds The hackathon is not limited to engineering or IT students. Participants from design, business, creative disciplines and other fields are equally welcome. No prior robotics experience is required. Curiosity, creativity and a willingness to collaborate are what matter most. Each team must include at least one student enrolled at a higher education institution in the European Union. Five days of innovation and expert mentoring RobotHack 2026 will take place in a hybrid format, combining online activities with in-person events in Riga, Latvia. The hackathon will kick off on 24 November at the Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI) in Riga. The opening event will also be livestreamed. From 25 to 27 November, participants will take part in online workshops, teamwork activities and mentoring sessions with experts. Optional in-person laboratory visits will be available on 26 November. The hackathon will conclude on 28 November with an in-person Demo Day at Riga Technical University (RTU), where teams will present their solutions. Register by 19 November Participation is free of charge, and the total prize pool is €8,000. Don't miss this opportunity to turn your ideas into practical solutions, connect with like-minded innovators and contribute to the development of future technologies! Registration closes on 19 November.

We invite you to explore “She. A Journey on Earth”, a painting exhibition by artist Lina Vai that explores the journey of human life, connections with ancestors, and the passage of time through personal experiences, family stories, and reflections on feminine identity. Lina Vai (Lina Vaicekauskaitė-Maslenskienė, born in 1978 in Vilnius) earned a Master's degree in Design from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2005. Throughout her career, she has worked in furniture and graphic design and has also created educational cardboard toys for children. Since 2017, however, her primary focus has been painting. According to the artist, painting has become a space where, through colours and brushstrokes, she seeks self-discovery, reflects on life experiences, and engages in a dialogue with her inner world. The origins of the exhibition “She. A Journey on Earth” can be traced to several family photographs of special significance. These images capture the final moments of the artist’s grandmother living in her home and on her land. The photographs inspired reflections on the path of human life from youth to old age, a sense of belonging to family, and the enduring connection between generations. The first painting of the series, which later lent its title to the entire exhibition, was created on All Souls’ Day Sunday in 2025 and became the starting point for further artistic exploration. The works exhibited explore themes of female identity, memory, and inherited connections. In the triptych “Janina”, “Jadvyga”, and “Self-Portrait”, the artist presents herself as a continuation of her grandmothers’ stories and experiences. One of the central symbols throughout the exhibition is the headscarf, representing a bond between women of different generations and embodying their legacy. The diptych “Twelve Headscarves” invites viewers to reflect on family roots and the unbroken chain of generations extending far beyond personal memory. According to the artist, these works offer a glimpse into the brief journey of a human life on Earth, which, from the perspective of the soul, becomes significant, meaningful, and eternal. It is symbolic that the paintings were begun during the All Souls’ Day period and are now being exhibited at a time when we remember those who have passed away and reflect on our connection to previous generations. Exhibition presentation and meeting with the artist on November 11 (Wednesday), 4:00 p.m. The exhibition will be on display at Gallery A of the VILNIUS TECH Library (Saulėtekio al. 14) from November 3 to 27. Virtual exhibition >>> Virtual Exhibitions Archive >>>