The Delegation of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, organised a unique hackathon under the theme ‘AI for Sustainability’ on 6 October 2025 as part of the EU Green Diplomacy Weeks. The event brought together teams of bachelor’s and master’s students from leading universities across the UAE to develop innovative, AI-driven solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.

Hosted at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the hackathon challenged the teams to design project proposals aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on, for example, climate action, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, and clean water and sanitation. Teams applied advanced AI techniques such as predictive modelling, computer vision, and optimisation algorithms to create innovative solutions with real-world applicability and potential impact.

In line with the European Union’s commitment to empowering women in technology and leadership, each team was led by a female student. This approach highlighted women’s empowerment as an EU and UAE priority and the importance of women’s leadership in shaping AI innovation and driving solutions for sustainability worldwide.

In her opening remarks, European Union Ambassador to the UAE, Her Excellency Lucie Berger, said:

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“The EU firmly believes that the challenges we face today cannot be solved by technology alone. They require inclusive innovation and ideas born of diversity, with women playing a central role. That is why it was important for us to push for women-led teams from universities across the UAE, a country clearly aligned with the EU on advancing gender equality, especially in male-dominated sectors like AI.”

The hackathon led by Dr. Giulia De Masi (SUAD) welcomed 27 teams representing 15 elite universities in the UAE. The 140 participants presented their solutions and a jury of experts including Vincent Giquel (Thales), Rayah Al Madhaani (Thales), Christelle Astorg-Lepine (CNES), Eliseo Ferrante (New York University Abu Dhabi), Boulbaba Ben Amor (Inception), Ms Hagar Haggag (Goumbook), Dr Sneha Leela (M42), Dr Lama Tarsissi (SUAD), Dr Benjamin Motte Baumvol (Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi) evaluated the teams’ pitches according to innovation, technical merit, feasibility, and potential impact.

Participants received mentorship from leading AI and sustainability experts including Nance Elnaker (Inception), Sabrina Hemissi (Thales), Dr SIba Moussa (M42), as well as having opportunities to network with EU diplomats.

Event sponsors Thales and M42 presented awards to the winning teams who competed for prizes in three different categories:

• Team Phoenix from the American University in Dubai won the Sustainable AI Excellence Award for the most practical and impactful AI-driven sustainability solution. 

• Team AtmosAI from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence was presented with the Next Future Award — for the most creative and visionary proposal with global potential with their project Your Invisible Shield Against Invisible Threats. 

• And the Energy Efficient AI Award – recognising the best energy efficiency and impact – went to two teams. Firstly, EcoNova from Rochester Institute of Technology for their project SolarGuard: Predict Protect Power) and CC Team from Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi for their project Power Grid Fault Detection. 

Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, congratulated the winning teams and said: “This hackathon reflects our strong belief in the power of youth, innovation, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence to shape the world’s most urgent sustainability challenges. At Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, we are proud to partner with the EU delegation and bring together bright minds from across the nation to advance research and develop innovative solutions, to drive purposeful leadership.”

She added: “Women are at the heart of this journey, stepping into greater leadership roles that amplify their voices and showcase their talent in driving sustainable change.”

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi actively champions women’s empowerment through education, research, mentorship and the arts, providing platforms that celebrate women’s achievements and equips future generations to lead meaningful change at both local and global levels.

This unique hackathon featured multidisciplinary student teams from fields including computer science, engineering, environmental studies, data science, and business, demonstrating the transformative role of young talent in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future - fully aligned with both the EU’s global priorities and the UAE’s vision for innovation. 

The EU Green Diplomacy Week is one of the EU’s global campaigns to promote cooperation on climate change and inspire meaningful action. This annual event has evolved into a significant occasion where the EU and its Member States host a series of events worldwide, fostering dialogue and collaboration on climate issues. These events serve as a platform to showcase successful sustainability initiatives and motivate further green actions.