Never too late to celebrate. Looking back at the experience of participating in the Urban Innovation Challenge Hackathon stands out as one of those rare moments where learning, collaboration, and impact truly come together. Organized by ESSCA and co-sponsored by the cities of Angers and Boulogne-Billancourt, the hackathon brought together students from different backgrounds to explore how data and AI can be used to rethink urban systems and sustainability.
It was the perfect opportunity to team up with two of my classmates with rich expertise in circularity and the use of technology to drive real change. Together with Jestine Cabiles and Sarah Javed, we teamed up to work on CircuTrace, an AI-powered waste traceability system designed to support urban circularity. The project aimed to help cities better understand waste flows, improve decision-making, and close material loops. Having our work recognized and selected as one of the winning projects was an incredibly proud moment for us, and a strong validation of the idea and the effort behind it.
From the very beginning, working with large, real-world datasets on topics such as waste management, energy, mobility, and urban policy pushed us far beyond theoretical exercises. The challenge required not only technical and analytical skills, but also creativity, teamwork, and the ability to translate complex data into meaningful, actionable ideas for cities. The intensity of the process made the experience both demanding and deeply rewarding.
Our team developed More than the outcome itself; this hackathon was a powerful learning journey. It strengthened our collaboration, sharpened our problem-solving skills, and reinforced our motivation to work on sustainability-driven innovation with real-world relevance. We are grateful to the organizers, partners, and city representatives for creating such a meaningful experience, and we would wholeheartedly encourage other students to take part in future editions.
Written by Nardos Berehe EMMIE scholar from cohort 3
