Saturday 4 April 2026 – A first edition that sets the tone

From the very start of the day, a collective energy took hold on the aivancity Paris-Villejuif campus. The students organised themselves into teams and quickly took to the workspaces.

The energy was immediate, structured and action-oriented. There was no hint that this was the first edition.

Launch of the challenge

The brief was clearly set out: to design, in the space of a single day, an artificial intelligence-based solution capable of tangibly improving daily life at aivancity.

Forty-five students from PGE1, PGE2 and PGE3 split into teams. Initial discussions get underway, and ideas emerge rapidly, rooted directly in real-world applications.

Structuring the projects

Very quickly, the teams moved into the development phase. The problems were refined, use cases defined, and the initial architectures began to take shape.

What stands out at this stage is the students’ ability to turn an idea into a solution. The approach is pragmatic and impact-driven.

Unrelenting intensity

As the day progresses, the pace does not let up. Discussions continue, projects evolve, and prototypes take shape.

The teams refine their demonstrations, structure their pitches and test their solutions. A collective sense of rigour gradually takes hold.

Project presentations

At the end of the day, the teams present their work to the judging panel. The proposals all share the same objective: to simplify and improve the student experience.

Five projects stand out in particular for their relevance and potential for roll-out:

• DayFlow, focused on daily organisation and time management
• AivaAssist, a smart assistant designed for students aivancity
• Pappers, a solution to simplify administrative procedures
• Fluid-Sync, a platform for sharing resources between students
• Aivancity Hub, a centralised portal for student life

These projects demonstrate a detailed understanding of campus needs and an ability to provide practical solutions within a limited timeframe.

A transformative student initiative

This hackathon was born out of a student initiative. Christina Tahan and Victoria C. Alajemba spearheaded the project from the outset, working directly with Google, which provided financial and organisational support.

This approach set the tone for the day and largely explains the level of engagement observed.

Beyond the projects developed, this day revealed a deeper dynamic: that of a campus where students take the initiative, experiment and build.

I had the opportunity to speak regularly with the organisers. Their rigour and organisational skills are worthy of praise. I encouraged them to make this a long-term event.

This hackathon has the potential to become a key event for aivancity.