Code4Sud explores AI for regional development
At the initiative of Simplon.co, Epitech, and Le Wagon, the association Code4Sud—now bringing together 10 degree-granting digital schools based in Marseille and the surrounding region—is committed to highlighting the tech talents of tomorrow.
Code4Sud organized the 5th edition of its hackathon with Onepoint Live, from October 2 to 4, 2024, in the heart of Aix-en-Provence.
A Hackathon to Develop AI for Environmental Challenges in the Region
To foster innovation and collaboration, Code4Sud brought together more than 80 students from its network of schools to work in teams over three days on a theme critical to the South Region.
The theme, “Artificial Intelligence for Environmental Challenges in the Region,” reflects the strong ambition of the Bouches-du-Rhône Department to tackle both topics—harnessing new technologies and building a sustainable future that meets the challenges of the territory.
Our school, along with all the institutions of the Code4Sud association, is fully aligned with these priorities. We are very proud to have brought together a Grand Jury composed of both public and private regional stakeholders committed to these causes.
I am convinced that this hackathon and the solutions developed by our students will help local stakeholders increase the use of technology for positive impact and recruit talented graduates from our schools to support their efforts.
The role of the coaches was to help the teams highlight their work by guiding them in building a pitch that clearly communicates the essentials to a jury. We supported them in structuring a 4-minute presentation that answered four key questions: Why is the issue important? How does the solution address it efficiently? What is the environmental impact? And what are the next steps beyond this first milestone?
Whether they become entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs, they will one day face investors they need to convince. Learning how to pitch is a crucial skill they’ll be able to use well beyond the hackathon.
A space designed for innovation and collective intelligence
Located in iconic French heritage sites, our Live spaces are designed to offer new ways of collaborating, ideal for ideation and creativity.
This standout moment gave full meaning to the Aix-en-Provence spaces—a seamless experience that fostered connection and catalyzed transformation. More than just venues, these are living, breathing spaces that energize collective intelligence.
The Onepoint Live team enhanced this event by offering a tailor-made event setup, perfectly aligned with the intense pace of the three-day hackathon. Each space played a key role in the success of the experience:
- Le Livepoint and La Voûte: quiet, elegantly designed, and modular spaces that allowed teams to develop their projects in a focused yet inspiring atmosphere
- Le Loft and La Terrasse: relaxing spots where participants could recharge and reflect during breaks
- Le Lab: a flexible, energizing environment transformed into a pitch and presentation zone for the jury—ideal for sparking creativity
Together, these spaces created a unique setting for an event full of collaboration, ideas, and innovation.
Innovative Solutions
This hackathon led to the emergence of several innovative AI-driven solutions addressing the region’s environmental challenges.
Three solutions were selected by the Grand Jury:
- A platform that analyzes urban biodiversity and climate, providing personalized recommendations for urban planners
- A landscape generator for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to support urban landscapers in designing projects that help reduce atmospheric CO₂
- An application to quantify the environmental impact of maritime activity on the carbon footprint of ports and cities
A Grand Jury made up of committed public and private stakeholders in the region:
- The Bouches-du-Rhône Department
- Onepoint
- The SFR Foundation
- France Travail
- Microsoft, which provided teams access to its AI platform
The event was a resounding success, as noted by Grand Jury members who praised both the quality of the solutions and the hackathon format’s ability to accelerate innovation.
Being part of the Grand Jury was a real pleasure for three main reasons. First, the theme brought together two key areas—AI and environmental impact—that are among the core strengths of our teams at Onepoint. Second, education and learning are part of Onepoint’s DNA. We consider ourselves a learning company and are proud to contribute alongside Code4Sud schools to help learners grow, promote diversity and inclusion, and provide pathways into tech careers focused on impact. Lastly, the hackathon format itself is powerful—it allows technology to be rapidly applied to real, meaningful problems, which is exactly what startups, businesses, and public services in our regions need.
The solutions presented were highly relevant, and we hope that beyond the hackathon, several of them will come to life and contribute to creating positive environmental impact through AI in our region.