01
Challenge revealed
Nov 2026 · date to be confirmed
The challenge is announced live at the GDG Sudbury hackathon and streamed online.
NODE × PDAC Hackathon 2027
Reveal. Build. Present.
4 phases. 1 stage.
In 39 days: Challenge revealed at the GDG Sudbury hackathon · Sat, Nov 14 (to be confirmed)
Northern Ontario's mining-tech challengefrom the GDG Sudbury hackathon to the PDAC stage
The challenge is revealed at the GDG Sudbury hackathon. Real datasets from explorers and miners open in December. Teams build through the winter, present at the finals in February, and the winners take the stage at PDAC 2027 in Toronto. You don't need a mining background, just a team that learns fast and builds well.
02
Data released
Dec 2026
Real datasets from explorers and miners open to every registered team. Build through the winter with mentors.
03
Challenge finals
Feb 2027 · date to be confirmed
Submit by February 12. Shortlisted teams then present to the judges at the finals.
04
Winners at PDAC
Mar 2027
The winning teams present their work on the PDAC 2027 stage in Toronto.
Mining has some of the most interesting data problems in Canada, and they don’t fit in a weekend. Forty-eight hours is enough for a demo, but not enough to understand a drill log. So the challenge is revealed in Sudbury, the data opens in December, and teams get the whole winter to do it properly, with the PDAC stage waiting at the end.
Phases4
Months to build3
In prizes$40K
Stage at PDAC1
Timeline
All times are Eastern. Past dates are crossed off, and the highlighted date is next.
Registration opens
One registration per person covers every phase. Teams of 2–5.
Online
Thu, Oct 1, 20269:00 AM ET- Next · in 6 weeks
Challenge revealed at the GDG Sudbury hackathon
The challenge owners present the problem live. Watch in person or on the stream.
Sudbury, ON · livestreamed
Sat, Nov 14, 202610:00 – 11:00 AM ET · to be confirmed Datasets released
Download links appear on your My hackathon page for every registered team.
Online · My hackathon
Tue, Dec 1, 20269:00 AM ETRegistration and team changes close
Online
Fri, Jan 15, 202711:59 PM ETSubmissions due
A repository link, a three-minute video and a one-page summary.
Online
Fri, Feb 12, 202711:59 PM ETFinalists announced
Online
Wed, Feb 17, 202712:00 PM ETChallenge finals: teams present
Shortlisted teams present to the judges. Everyone can watch, and the people’s choice vote happens here.
Venue to be announced · streamed
Sat, Feb 20, 202710:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET · to be confirmedWinners present at PDAC 2027
The winning teams present on the PDAC stage, followed by the awards.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto
Tue, Mar 9, 20272:00 – 3:30 PM ET
What you're competing for
Grand prize$15,000Best overall project, presented on the PDAC 2027 stage
Track winners4 × $5,000One per challenge track
Best student team$2,500Every member enrolled in a college or university
People's choice$2,500Voted by the audience at the February finals
The PDAC stage
Winners present at PDAC 2027 on Tue, Mar 9, 2027, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Real data
Datasets from explorers and miners you won’t find anywhere else, and you keep access after the challenge.
Mentors
Office hours with geologists, mining engineers and data people through the winter.
A foot in the door
Challenge owners and sponsors meet every finalist, and several are hiring.
The challenge
Revealed live at the GDG Sudbury hackathon and posted here the same day. It will fall into one of these four areas.
01
Exploration data
Make decades of drill logs, assays and survey data searchable, comparable and useful in the field.
02
Critical minerals
Trace nickel, lithium and graphite from the deposit to the battery plant, and show where the chain is weak.
03
Safety underground
Help crews see hazards sooner, ventilation, ground conditions, equipment and people, in real time.
04
Community & environment
Tools that make a project understandable to the people who live next to it: water, land, jobs and consultation.
Guidelines
- 1.
Open to anyone 18 or older living in Canada, students, professionals and startups alike.
- 2.
Teams are 2–5 people. Register on your own, then form or join a team here. Teams can change until January 15, 2027.
- 3.
Projects must be built during the challenge using the released datasets. Open-source libraries and public data are welcome.
- 4.
Datasets are for the challenge only. Don’t share them outside your team. Some come with confidentiality terms you accept when you download them.
- 5.
Submissions are due by 11:59 PM ET on February 12, 2027. Send a repository link, a three-minute video and a one-page summary.
- 6.
Shortlisted teams present at the February finals. Winners are invited to present at PDAC 2027 in Toronto on March 9, 2027.
- 7.
You own what you build. Challenge owners may ask to talk with you after the event.
- 8.
Everyone follows the code of conduct. Judges’ decisions are final.
Judges & mentors
DT
Dr. Hélène Tremblay
Chief geologist
JudgeRM
Raj Malhotra
VP, digital mining
JudgeKJ
Kateri Jacobs
Community relations lead
JudgeLO
Liam O’Connor
Mine ventilation engineer
MentorMC
Mei Chen
Remote sensing scientist
MentorJW
Jordan Whitehead
Founder
MentorFAQs
How does it work?
You register once. The challenge is revealed at the GDG Sudbury hackathon in November and the datasets open on December 1. Teams build through the winter and submit by February 12, then shortlisted teams present at the finals. The winners present at PDAC 2027 in Toronto on Tuesday, March 9.
Do I have to be in Sudbury or Toronto?
No. The kickoff and the finals are streamed, and everything in between happens online. Finalists are invited to present in person, and we plan to offer them travel support.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. Registration is free and covers every phase.
Do I need a team?
No. Register on your own and use Find a team, or join the online team mixer in November. Teams are 2–5 people and can change until January 15.
Who can take part?
Anyone 18 or older living in Canada: students, developers, geoscientists, designers and engineers. You don’t need to have worked in mining.
Who owns what we build?
You do. Challenge owners ask only for a demo and a short write-up, and may want to talk with you afterwards.
Sponsors
PresentingYour company hereGoldSponsor nameGoldSponsor nameSilverSponsor nameSilverSponsor nameSilverSponsor nameCommunityNODE, Northern Ontario Dev ExchangeCommunityPartner universityCommunityPartner college
Your team. Real data. The PDAC stage.
Free · one registration for every phase · 37 of 200 spots left