From 18 to 20 November 2025, a team of five Master 1 Data Science & AI students represented AI2 at the CND Hackathon 2025 of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, held at the Mont-Valérien fortress, home of the Île-de-France zonal digital support directorate.
The challenge: anticipating failures with AI
The 2025 theme, “Anticipating failures with AI”, asked the teams to design an artificial-intelligence solution able to detect and analyse IT anomalies, whether failures or malicious actions, and to optimise the planning and allocation of resources of a military network. A real, concrete case at the service of national defence, with a second project phase running until 31 March 2026 and up to €30,000 of support for finalist projects.
Alongside France’s engineering schools
Eleven teams from schools such as 42 Paris, 42 Lyon, ESIEA, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL, ESGI, IPSSI, ECE and EPITA took part. The first day was devoted to data work, the second to the AI model and the demonstrator, before the selection of three finalists.
Taking part in the CND hackathon means working on an applied-AI case for national defence, developing technical, collaborative and leadership skills, and joining a prestigious institutional network. It connects directly with AI2’s MSc Applied AI & Cybersecurity. See all events and student challenges.
