Organised by the Red Helmets Foundation, with Valérie Pécresse, Minister for Higher Education and Research, Challenge Humanitech invited students to develop innovative tools to facilitate humanitarian action. Almost 120 students from all around France participated in this meeting that took place in La Cantine.
Many professionals agreed to join our jury: Yannick d' Escatha, President of the National Center of Spatial Studies, Yves le Mouël, Chief executive officer of the French Federation of the Telecom, Pierre Aliphat, Director General of the Conference of “Grandes Ecoles”, Gilles Pennequin, Person in charge Sustainable development of the Mission Union for the Mediterranean, Julien Roitman, President of the Association of Supélec, Vice-president Founder of France Competitiveness, Pia de Brantes, Administrator of CARE France, Stephane Distinguin, President of Silicon Sentier, Philippe Boissat, President of 3i3s, Johanna Naon, General Manager of Campus Mag, Cedric Errero, Director of the Green Team, Pierre Camy, Casques Rouges.
Students supported their project with energy, fervour and determination. Valérie Pécresse, Minister for Higher Education and Research testified: " I want today to encourage you solemnly to keep working. This day does not symbolise the end of your commitment but the beginning of a new adventure. All your projects are worth it ".
If all the members of the jury underlined the quality, the perspicacity and the efficiency of the projects which were presented to them, they had to give the name of the prize-winner.
For the first edition of the Challenge Humanitech, the members of the jury chose to approve by a large majority the purifier of brackish water with solar distillation presented by the IUT Grenoble team. This project has for ultimate purpose to facilitate the access of the drinking water in developing countries.
Gilles Pennequin (In charge of Sustainable development of the Mission Union for the Mediterranean), declared on this matter: «this project answers a concrete short-term demand".
Two other particularly innovative projects held attention of the member of the jury: “Humanidrone” and “Humanitarian Generation”. The Red Helmets Fundation will help those two groups develop their projects.
The winners had the opportunity to present their project in front of the Minister for Higher Education and Research and received a 5 000€ prize plus a stand in the next World International Forum of the Humanitarian Aid which will take place in Paris from 12sd to 15th of September.
Besides a report dedicated to their project will be unwound in UGC and on France Télévision.
More information: www.challenge-humanitech.com
