Yamoussoukro hosts groundbreaking circular economy hackathon
Yamoussoukro witnessed a landmark event in sustainable innovation as Bioban emerged victorious at the national hackathon dedicated to circular economy principles. Held from June 17 to 19 at the prestigious Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), the competition brought together ten teams of three participants each.
Transforming agricultural waste into sustainable solutions
The winning project, Bioban, specializes in converting agricultural waste into biogas for household cooking and organic fertilizers to restore soil fertility. This initiative perfectly embodies the hackathon’s core theme: “Technological innovation and circular economy: zero waste, maximum impact”.
A platform for green innovation
Participants underwent an intensive three-day program featuring training sessions, expert coaching, and prototyping workshops. Each team presented their solutions to a panel of specialists in waste management, biodegradable product design, natural resource conservation, and waste valorization.
The Deputy Director-General for Research, Innovation, and Technopole at INP-HB emphasized the critical role of circular economy in addressing today’s environmental challenges. He highlighted technological innovation as the cornerstone for achieving zero-waste goals in Côte d’Ivoire.
Supporting sustainable business growth
The initiative, developed in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) under the ProREI project, aims to foster green, social, and digital innovation while boosting the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. The program specifically targets very small, small, and medium businesses seeking to integrate sustainable practices.
Guy Corée, head of INP-HB’s Central Incubator Office, praised the exceptional quality of submissions, noting the high caliber of participating teams. He announced that six projects—including the top three winners—will receive six months of incubation support. This program focuses on legal structuring, industrial scaling, market access strategies, and financial mobilization.
A bright future for circular economy pioneers
The victorious team, led by agricultural engineer and renewable energy specialist Ndiessa Kwaku Boris, expressed pride in their accomplishment. Bioban‘s solution directly addresses Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural waste challenge while providing clean energy alternatives and enhancing farm productivity through organic soil enrichment.
