Andøya-based Tiepoint, a member of NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster, has secured first place in the European final of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2026, marking a major milestone for the Norwegian company developing AI-enabled drone interception technology.
After winning the Norwegian edition of the hackathon in Trondheim earlier this year, Tiepoint advanced to the European final, where seven national winners from across Europe competed for the top prize.
Ahead of the final pitching competition, all eight winning teams participated in an intensive bootcamp in Finland, receiving mentoring from defence, innovation and industry experts to further develop their concepts.
Tiepoint ultimately claimed first place, ahead of France's Rubicon and the Netherlands' Arqus Aerospace. As part of their prize, the winning teams will now showcase their solutions at leading European defence, innovation and startup events, gaining visibility and connecting with key stakeholders from across the ecosystem.
"We knew we had a strong concept after winning the Norwegian final, but taking it all the way to first place in Europe is something different. This is a big moment for Tiepoint, for the team, and for the work we have put into AI-powered drone interception," says Mats Mikalsen Kristensen, Managing Director of Tiepoint.
Mats Mikalsen Kristensen, Managing Director of Tiepoint. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri
See also: Drone and AI specialist Tiepoint joins NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster
Tiepoint's concept addresses a growing challenge for modern armed forces: how to counter large numbers of low-cost drones with interception systems that are affordable, scalable and operationally effective.
Many existing interception solutions rely heavily on highly skilled FPV pilots and expensive equipment, creating bottlenecks when facing mass drone attacks. Drone-based interception can lower costs, but often creates a new bottleneck in the form of the operator.
Tiepoint's approach combines human decision-making with adaptive autonomy. Under the concept, a human operator launches the interceptor and confirms the target, while an AI system autonomously executes the interception.
"Manual FPV interception is difficult to scale. It requires rare skills, extensive training and operators who can perform under significant pressure. By moving the most demanding part of the interception process from manual control to adaptive autonomy, we can keep human judgement in the loop while allowing AI to handle the part of the mission where speed, precision and continuous learning matter most," says Kristensen.
Rather than relying solely on pre-programmed rules, Tiepoint trains its algorithms in simulation environments. Through reinforcement learning, the system improves through millions of interception attempts, continuously refining pursuit behaviour and decision-making.
Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri
Headquartered in Andenes, Tiepoint was established as a joint venture between Andøya Space and Sundt Air. The company combines operational drone expertise with advanced AI capabilities and has access to a network of more than 100 pilots operating under an EASA Specific LUC approval.
Tiepoint conducts long-range drone missions in Arctic environments, where satellite communication, weather conditions and geomagnetic disturbances create demanding operational constraints. The company also operates Norway's largest AI data centre dedicated to AI development for drones.
Since winning the Norwegian competition, Tiepoint has further strengthened its simulation backbone, expanded computing capacity, connected additional data centre resources and continued dialogue with defence, operational and industrial stakeholders.
Presenting at Norwegian competition in Trondheim. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri
Se also: How Norwegian and European teams are solving the future of drone warfare
Tiepoint's technology development is closely informed by real-world operational requirements. Through cooperation with Ukrainian units supported by Fritt Ukraina, the company has gained valuable insights into frontline challenges and the rapidly evolving nature of drone warfare.
The company has also demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting Ukraine. Following its victory at the Norwegian EUDIS Defence Hackathon in Trondheim, Tiepoint donated the entire EUR 6,000 first prize to Fritt Ukraina to support Ukrainian units operating on the front line.
"This is technology developed to solve real challenges in war. It felt right that the prize should also go directly to those facing these realities every day," says Kristensen.
According to Kristensen, the company's ambition is to develop autonomy and artificial intelligence that can scale across platforms and address the growing challenge posed by low-cost, mass-produced UAV threats without depending on elite FPV operators.
"Winning the European final is a strong confirmation that this work matters. It confirms that the problem is real, that the direction is relevant, and that the Tiepoint team has the operational experience and technical capability to move this forward," he says.
Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri
See also: Tiepoint donates hackathon prize to support Ukraine
Tiepoint thanked EUDIS, mentors, jury members and supporting organisations, including NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster and Innovation Norway, for helping sharpen the solution throughout the competition process.
The European victory highlights the growing strength of Nordic defence innovation and demonstrates how companies combining operational experience, artificial intelligence and software-defined capabilities can help address rapidly evolving aerial threats.
For NORDSEC, the achievement also illustrates the potential of connecting startups, defence stakeholders and technology environments to accelerate the development of capabilities relevant for Europe's future security landscape.
Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri