The 2023 edition of the Alumni Days in North America took place in Phoenix, AZ. The event gathered a number of alumni from all Ecoles Centrale and Supélec, as well as some alumni from other French Grandes Ecoles.
2023 Edition
Key moments
The event was organized around the Startup Challenge pitch competition and, thanks to Dr. Michael Crow, in close partnership with several units of Arizona State University.
Keynote & Panels
Dr Kyles Squire, Dean of Engineering, presented the transition of ASU into transdisciplinary schools, as well as progress and limits of virtual learning.
Cybersecurity Panel – What technologies “made in Arizona” will support the roll-out of drones in a secure way.
Biotech and Genetics Panel – How healthcare innovation was accelerated in Arizona with concrete example of cutting-edge projects.
Future of Mobility Panel – How will autonomous vehicles and VR/AR shape how we move in the physical and digital spaces
Startup Challenge
With the support of ATI (Arizona Tech Investors), 3 teams competed and, first, pitched their business idea in front of an experienced panel of US investors and, then, in front of the alumni group present at the event.
Vazy Data: Conversational AI for entreprise analytics
Plastorialis: The best economical and ecological device to reduce 3D printing waste
Protomia: Patient-specific prosthetics using photos, AI-based algorithms and 3D printing techniques.
And the winning team was Protomia, from Centrale Lille, with Vazy Data and Plastoriasis tied for the second place!
Visits
While VCs were helping the 3 teams selected for the Startup Challenge to sharpen their pitching skills, the alumni could participate in the following visits:
ASU Biodesign, a world -class research institute having a direct and profound impact on society. Organized in 12 centers, working on more than 200 projects and that, in its first 20 years, has received $1B in grants, philanthropic and industry sources.
Transdev, a French company that manages Waymo’s tests of driverless vehicles both in Phoenix and in San Francisco. The visit included the experience of a ride in a Waymo vehicle!
NXP Visit of one of the local fabs of NXP Semiconductors N.V., a semiconductor designer and manufacturer headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
ASU Interplanetary Initiative, preparing the world for an interplanetary future built upon cooperative and inclusive new structures, systems, and perspectives and, today, already involved into building and successfully launching satellites!
ASU Center for Science & Imagination, the mission of which is to ignite collective imagination for a better future, by bringing together artists, authors, and educators with scientists, technologists, policy thinkers, and community members.
Networking
Several informal events gave the opportunity to the alumni, students and participants to network and build lasting relationships.
