The First 2025 Paris NBS Hackathon: A High-Impact Scientific Sprint Toward Nature-Based Innovation
Publié le 8 décembre 2025
The first 2025 edition of the Paris Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Hackathon has successfully concluded, marking an exciting milestone for interdisciplinary innovation in urban sustainability. This high-intensity scientific sprint brought together 35 students from across Europe, including 21 from the EELISA European University Alliance and 14 from Université PSL, forming six diverse teams that combined engineering, environmental sciences, social sciences, business strategy, and design thinking to co-create actionable NBS solutions.
Over several days, participants engaged in a science-based, structured innovation process, inspired by ecological systems analysis and purpose-driven design. The methodology emphasized feasibility modeling, risk assessment, and systemic thinking, ensuring that every prototype addressed both environmental and societal dimensions of urban resilience.
Students explored real-world challenges facing cities, identifying leverage points for Nature-Based Solutions to mitigate urban flooding, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem services. The hackathon bridged theoretical knowledge with hands-on problem-solving, fostering the development of technically robust and socially meaningful solutions.
The event culminated in a final pitch session, where each team presented their prototype to an international panel of experts, including urban decision-makers, NBS and biodiversity specialists, financial stakeholders, and development representatives.
The city council panel featured:
Barthélemy Roger, Urbanist
Bruno Leroux, Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer, BNP Paribas
Valerie Lallier Bonnard, Senior Partnership Adviser, UNESCO
Marion Poncet, Project Officer, IUCN France
Adam Csuvár, Assistant Professor, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Environmental Economics and Sustainability
Emmanuel Garbolino, Senior Researcher, ISIGE Mines Paris – PSL
Teams were rigorously evaluated on:
Scientific rigor and methodological robustness
Clarity of assumptions and evidence-based reasoning
Impact modeling, including risk anticipation and trade-off analysis
Presentation quality, data transparency, and alignment with IUCN standards
The hackathon demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary collaboration when anchored in science, creativity, and a shared commitment to the ecological transition. Students not only proposed innovative concepts but also developed evidence-based, technically feasible pathways for urban Nature-Based Solutions that can be scaled and implemented in real-world contexts.
The outcomes of the Paris NBS Hackathon highlight the potential of Nature-Based Solutions to enhance urban resilience, biodiversity, and community well-being. By combining rigorous science, stakeholder engagement, and applied innovation, the projects set a benchmark for future initiatives in sustainable urban development.
ISIGE Mines Paris – PSL congratulates all students, mentors, researchers, and facilitators for their exceptional work. Your contributions expand the boundaries of what Nature-Based Solutions can achieve, and the momentum generated during this first edition paves the way for a promising future of interdisciplinary, impact-driven environmental innovation.