Ivane Coulibaly Wins the 2026 “Jeunes Ambassadeurs” Trophy in the Innovation Category

Ivane Coulibaly, an Ivorian student, won the Innovation Award at the 2026 “Jeunes Ambassadeurs” program for his project, Solar Shield DC. This project aims to create data centers that run on solar energy and do not rely on outside power.
Ivane was one of 15 finalists chosen this year from five award categories, along with his classmate Aboubakar Barry, from the JA4EVER Class of 2024. 
Ivane is currently studying in a dual-degree program at Grenoble INP - Esisar and the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INPHB) in Ivory Coast. He developed this award-winning project with help from his mentor, Sylvain Paré, who is the founder of the startup News Solar in Valence. This project tackles important energy and digital challenges for the future.


The Young Ambassadors Program: Supporting Innovation and International Collaboration

The Young Ambassadors Program brings together international students from different backgrounds. Each student is paired with a business leader from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. They work on innovative projects in culture, science, economics, and sustainability. The goal is to build lasting connections between the students’ home countries and their university cities in France. Throughout the year, participants receive mentoring, visit companies, attend networking events, and engage in cultural activities. The program concludes with the Trophies Competition, which honors the most impactful projects.

This year, 15 finalists were chosen from 90 applications in five categories: Citizenship, Attractiveness, Innovation, Peace, and JA4EVER. After a jury interviewed the candidates, one winner was selected in each category. Ivane Coulibaly is one of the five winners for the 2026 edition. 
 
A New Door for My Future Career”

The Innovation Trophy is for projects that mix creativity with practical benefits and strengthen ties between the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the students’ home countries. Ivane's project, SOLAR SHIELD DC, aims to create a carbon-free, self-sufficient, and scalable data center model that links Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Côte d’Ivoire.

The project is currently in the design phase and aims to reach a key milestone in late 2026 with its first prototype. Ivane will help with the cybersecurity for the project, using the skills he developed at Grenoble INP - Esisar.
This project not only addresses technical and environmental issues but also opens new career opportunities for him. “This JA project has opened a new door for me that I would never have imagined for my future career,” Ivane explains.