Hôtel-Dieu de France and Smart ESA, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Lebanon, organized the first edition of HackSanté as part of a strategy to promote innovation and digital transformation in healthcare. The event took place from February 5 to 7, 2026, at Hôtel-Dieu de France in Beirut and concluded with an official closing ceremony held on February 11, 2026, at the N. and H. Obegi Auditorium.

HackSanté featured several key sessions. The convention provided a platform for innovative projects led by students and start-ups and offered opportunities for exchange and sharing of experiences. Additionally, the congress included a technological and creative innovation workshop. During this workshop, 11 teams composed of participants from various universities and disciplines competed around a shared mission: to propose solutions to technological challenges faced by hospitals.

The closing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mr. Hervé Magro, Ambassador of France to Lebanon, Fr. François Boëdec, S.J., Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Chairman of the Board of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Mr. Nassib Nasr, General Director of the USJ-HDF Hospital Network, and Mr. Maxence Duault, Director of ESA, alongside numerous deans, directors, partners, participating teams, and guests.

The ceremony marked the official announcement of the hackathon results in the presence of the jury, as well as the awarding of certificates of participation and prizes to the winning teams. The projects showcased the remarkable potential of youth and demonstrated their ability to propose innovative solutions addressing current healthcare challenges, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, automation of care processes, and patient journey optimization.

Ms. Myriam Zarife, Vice President of French Tech Beirut and partner of the event, praised the HackSanté initiative. She highlighted the driving role of Hôtel-Dieu de France in promoting innovation in Lebanon’s healthcare sector and expressed her gratitude to the French Embassy for its ongoing support of entrepreneurship and innovative project development, particularly through Smart ESA. She also encouraged young participants to continue their commitment to innovation and strengthen collaborations between France and Lebanon.

Dean Prof. Elie Nemer, representing the Faculty of Medicine at USJ, expressed his satisfaction in participating in the closing of HackSanté’s first edition. He emphasized the relevance of this initiative led by Hôtel-Dieu de France and its partners around the theme of innovation in healthcare. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation in building bridges between talents, disciplines, and generations. Furthermore, Prof. Nemer praised the commitment of participants, stating that the hackathon goes beyond a competition and embodies a strong message of collective innovation, in line with the shared academic, hospital, and social responsibility mission.

Mr. Maxence Duault expressed his satisfaction in participating in the closing ceremony and prize-giving of HackSanté’s first edition. He praised the vision behind this initiative, led by the French Embassy in Lebanon, aimed at fostering a unifying and structuring project around healthcare and innovation challenges. He also noted that organizing a hackathon within a hospital demonstrates strong commitment and paid tribute to the strategic vision of Hôtel-Dieu de France’s General Management, which enabled the institution to combine hospital excellence, boldness, and innovation. He concluded by commending the engagement and determination of the participating teams, which contributed to the success of the initiative.

His Excellency Mr. Hervé Magro highlighted the success of HackSanté and praised the talent and commitment of students, entrepreneurs, and experts mobilized around healthcare innovation. He emphasized that the initiative reflects the strength of Franco-Lebanese cooperation and the historic role of Hôtel-Dieu de France as a center of medical, academic, and scientific excellence. He also reminded the audience that the project aims to support the modernization of the hospital sector through technological innovation and the mobilization of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He concluded by congratulating the winners and encouraging the further development of the presented solutions to support the digital transformation of the healthcare system and improve patient care.

During his speech, Mr. Nassib Nasr, General Director of the USJ–HDF Hospital Network, underlined that organizing HackSanté, in partnership with Smart ESA and the French Embassy in Lebanon, is part of the hospital network’s innovation and digital transformation initiatives. He emphasized the importance of integrating innovative technologies to enhance the quality and safety of care, optimize patient pathways, and leverage medical knowledge. He also praised the creativity and engagement of participants, stating that this initiative represents an important step in shaping the healthcare of tomorrow.

Following the official speeches, a recap video of HackSanté 2026 was screened, followed by the announcement of the three finalist teams and presentations of their projects during pitch sessions. The event concluded with the announcement of the winners: Syncare took first place, followed by Hacka14 in second, and BridgeCare in third. Winning teams received financial prizes and health coverage provided by HDF Santé. Certificates of participation were then awarded to all 11 teams, followed by the official group photo. The event concluded with a networking cocktail, allowing participants and partners to connect and further develop their professional networks.