Urban Innovation Challenge Hackathon at ESSCA

News

Urban Innovation Challenge Hackathon at ESSCA

From 25 to 27 February, ESSCA welcomed the 2nd Urban Innovation Challenge Hackathon on its Lyon campus, organised as part of the European partnership EUonAir.

The theme?

“How AI can enable professional training for vulnerable communities”

In front of an expert jury and with the support of Alexandre Nicolet and Yann Truong, our students spent three days designing concrete solutions with strong social impact.

Award-winning solutions:

🥇 1st Prize

A new algorithm that will enable people whose skills are close to a job’s requirements to apply for a position, even if they do not meet all the criteria. Tailored training pathways will then be offered to help them access the role.

This solution will improve the match between jobseekers and labour market needs.

🏆 2nd Prize

A solution combining a talent re-discovery engine with a “FairMatch” layer connected to an ATS (Applicant Tracking System), replacing binary CV screening with an explainable scoring system supported by a personalised upskilling plan.

🏆 3rd Prize

A tool based on NLP (Natural Language Processing), clustering and predictive modelling, designed to analyse CVs in order to extract skills, recommend jobs and training opportunities, and anticipate labour market trends to better guide candidates and recruiters.

🏆 Jury’s Favourite Award

An empathetic AI assistant for young jobseekers, designed to help them overcome psychological barriers and regain confidence in their job search.

This event was made possible thanks to the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Lyon Metropolis.

Congratulations to ESSCA students for their commitment 👏