Panama City, 18 July 2025. The CopernicusLAC Panama Centre kicked off its second online Hackathon focused on Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Co-organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), the Hackathon will foster innovation, strengthen capacities, promote collaboration, and raise awareness of the importance of Copernicus EO data in addressing regional environmental and socio-economic challenges. The theme for this edition is “Saving lives with Copernicus”.
During the inaugural event, more than 90 participants were treated to keynote speeches by the EU Ambassador to Panama, H.E. Izabela Matusz, Ambassador Clarems Endara, representing the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), and Dr. Claudia Herrera, Stakeholder Liaison Officer of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre.
Mrs. Monica Maria López, from RedCLARA, Juan Melo Luna from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team and Gil Pletsch, from Quiron Digital, were part of the multidisciplinary panel of regional experts that completed the first day activities.
Facilitators from the Centre provided the details of the Hackathon to the participants, who for the next 19 days will have the opportunity to receive mentoring sessions and expert webinars, while engaging in 3 thematic challenges:
- Protecting Cities from Hazards
- Strengthening Rural Communities and Ecosystems
- Promoting Long-Term Resilience
The 3 best solutions will receive cash prizes, with the first prize being $5,000, the second $2,000, and the third team winning $1,000. The names and projects of the winning teams will be announced at the closing ceremony on 6 August at 11 am (UTC-5 Panama).
About the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre
The activities of the Centre fall within the overall context of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which is a strategic framework to promote cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region on digital and space issues under the umbrella of the EU Global Gateway strategy. In this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) coordinates the implementation of the Centre on the basis of a Contribution Agreement with the Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, and in close collaboration with the Government of Panama, the MIRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the SENACYT (National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation).
About the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)
The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) is a regional intergovernmental organization, created on October 17, 1975, through the Panama Convention, constitutive of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), composed of 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries; aimed at promoting a system of consultation and coordination to coordinate common positions and strategies in economic matters, before countries, groups of nations, forums and international organizations and to promote cooperation and integration among Latin American and Caribbean countries.