BRAMPTON, ON – The City of Brampton marked another milestone in its growing space and innovation ecosystem last week as it hosted the second annual BramHacks hackathon — a three-day event that brought together hundreds of young innovators to design next-generation solutions using space technology.
More than 700 participants representing over 35 academic institutions from across Ontario and Canada took part in BramHacks 2025: Space Edition, creating data-driven concepts to strengthen communities, promote sustainability and improve life on Earth.
The event concluded on Sunday, November 9, with a finale at Brampton City Hall, where the top five teams presented their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges:
- Matilda Khoshaba, Systems Engineer, Canadensys Aerospace
- Kyle Boyko, CEO & Founder, InspireTech Canada
- Michael Graham, CEO & Founder, North American Space Institute (NASI)
The finale also featured a keynote address from NASI Chief Marketing Officer Mahfuz Chowdhury, encouraging students to transform their ideas into real-world impact.
BramHacks 2025 Winners
First Place – Team JADE
Project: Heimdall
An AI-powered satellite diagnostic and repair system that predicts hardware failures and improves mission reliability through deep learning and autonomous robotic servicing.
Second Place – Team Coolie
Project: Astro-Academy
A gamified, AI-enhanced space science education platform using interactive simulations to make STEM learning accessible and immersive.
Third Place – Team SpaceEx
Project: Vela
A predictive orbital monitoring system that uses satellite data to track space debris and reduce collision risks.
A Collaborative Space Innovation Ecosystem
BramHacks 2025 was delivered by HackWorks in partnership with the City of Brampton’s Economic Development Office and Brampton’s Innovation District. The event was proudly sponsored by:
- Amazon
- Greater Toronto Airports Authority
- Canon Canada
- Pizza2Go
- Downtown Brampton BIA
Local academic and innovation partners — including Sheridan College, Toronto Metropolitan University, Zebra Robotics, Youth Culture, Make Stuff Move, and Algoma University — played a key role as mentors and judges.
This year’s hackathon also introduced a digitally immersive platform through a partnership with Ibentos, a Brampton-based BHive start-up, featuring an AI assistant and virtual networking tools.
Space Day in Brampton: Launching the Next Generation
BramHacks kicked off during Space Day at Canon Canada Headquarters on November 6, celebrating Brampton’s leadership in the Canadian space sector. Highlights included:
- Moonshot3 — an experiential event connecting high school students to careers in rocketry, robotics and space.
- A gathering of the Ontario Space Cluster, hosted by Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
- The official opening of BramHacks 2025 with keynote remarks from Dr. Robert Thirsk, former Canadian astronaut, and Rahul Goel, CEO of NordSpace, ahead of Canada’s first commercial rocket launch.
A Certificate of Recognition was presented on behalf of Minister Maninder Sidhu to Brampton’s Economic Development Office for its leadership in organizing BramHacks.
Building Canada’s Space Innovation Capital
Brampton is home to MDA Space’s Global Headquarters and Space Robotics Centre of Excellence, globally recognized for innovations including the Canadarm. With the Sheridan Centre for Intelligent Robotics and a fast-growing network of research partners and start-ups, Brampton is positioning itself as a national hub for space technology development.
Quotes
Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton
“Brampton is quickly becoming one of Canada’s most exciting centres for space innovation. BramHacks showcases the creativity and talent that place our city at the forefront of the future. We are proud to support young innovators driving solutions for a stronger and more sustainable world.”
Gurpartap Singh Toor, Regional Councillor, Wards 9 & 10; Chair, Economic Development
“Events like BramHacks spark creativity, attract investment and strengthen Brampton’s reputation as a city of innovation. By challenging students to solve real-world problems in space tech, we continue to propel new opportunities for our young talent.”
Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Vice-Chair, Economic Development
“Last week demonstrated the power of collaboration between government, academia, and industry. Brampton is becoming a leading hub in Canada’s space sector, training the next generation of STEM leaders and growing our innovation economy.”
Team JADE – BramHacks 2025 First Place Winners
“We built Heimdall to help sustain the satellites our communities rely on every day. BramHacks showed us how space innovation can support life on Earth, and inspired us to develop technology that predicts, repairs and enhances mission reliability.”