The 5th edition of the European Hackathon concluded with the triumph of the CareLoop project, held in Paris from March 20-24, 2026. Hosted by Université Gustave Eiffel and AFIT France, the event challenged students from partner universities across Europe to innovate around a central theme: "What infrastructure and services can meet mobility needs in low-density areas?".
"Team 4," a multidisciplinary and international group, secured first prize by analyzing the challenges of the Creuse district in France. In this region, 40% of the population is elderly and suffers from poor public transport and high taxi costs, factors that lead to increasing social isolation and missed healthcare appointments.
The goal of CareLoop is to seamlessly connect healthcare and socializing to mobility, creating a coordinated system that does not force vulnerable users to adapt to complex new technologies.CareLoop is a B2G (Business-to-Government) AI mobility coordination platform. Key features of the system include:
- Centralized Management: Municipalities use a dashboard to map demand and optimize transport routes in real time using the Dijkstra algorithm, allocating existing regional fleets—such as school buses, taxis, or volunteer drivers.
- "Invisible" Technology: For the elderly and people with disabilities, the technology remains simple and familiar. Rides can be requested through a phone call, an SMS, or via "CareKiosks"—accessible physical stations designed to book social events following medical appointments.
The project offers a highly scalable model for rural Europe, adaptable to various municipalities, such as the low-density areas around Bologna, Italy. By optimizing routes, CareLoop reduces fossil fuel emissions and lowers costs for local governments while fostering mobility equity. This ensures that vulnerable demographics can reliably attend medical appointments and participate in community events, drastically reducing social isolation.The success of CareLoop is the result of a European academic collaboration involving:
- Poorya Karami (DICAM - UNIBO, Italy)
- Maryam Alavi, Elouan Belliard, Cherazad Hafidhou, and Gladys Ndyanabo Nuwagira (Université Gustave Eiffel, France)
- Enrico Mognato (IUAV, Italy)
- Namrata Sethi (LAUREA, Finland).
With CareLoop, mobility stops being a barrier and becomes a bridge to health and community, ensuring that no one is left behind due to their geographic location or age.
