Gimeolex 2026 - IUT
GIMEOLEX 2026: On the Rise!
GIMEOLEX 2026, which combines physical challenges with energy production, is co-organized by the Valenciennes University Institute of Technology (IUT) and the Littoral Côte d'Opale University Institute of Technology (IUT).
A rainy start—is GIMeolex happy?
GIMeolex is a 3-day national event that took place from June 9 to 11
14 teams of students in Industrial Engineering and Maintenance (BUT) (GIM) from eight IUTs across France participated in a 25-kilometer orienteering race from the Hardelot water sports center to the town of Le Portel, as part of a national competition focused on renewable energy production.
The goal for the students?
To design, over the course of the year, a lightweight and high-performance device that the teams would carry 25 km across cliffs, through forests, and over dunes. Upon arrival, they set up camp, install their device, and begin generating energy.
To do this, the various teams got creative by using several solutions to generate energy: wind turbines, solar panels, and human-powered generation.
▶️ Watch the video on our YouTube channel: https://uphf.fr/u/6hc7jj
Gimeolex 2026 - IUT
Let the production begin!
Once set up, the teams waste no time getting started on production.
From Tuesday evening through Thursday morning, they give it their all, but to win the competition, just producing isn’t enough! The time spent on the orienteering course and the weight of the equipment carried (each participant goes through the weigh-in like a boxing match) are taken into account. To stand out, some teams don’t hesitate to take turns working through the night, especially when it comes to muscle-powered energy, particularly by using bicycles.
2 IUTs on the podium
The students braved the wind, the rain, the coastal chill to defend their colors, and at the end of the race, the Toulon IUT claimed first place after cycling through both nights—a well-deserved victory!
Second and third places were won hands down by the two teams from Valenciennes!
Gimeolex 2026 - IUT
Wave-Op: An Inspiring Project
Renewable energy and the coastline—it’s the perfect combination for exploring innovative solutions
Wave-Op is a company founded by the Legendre Group and GEPS Techno to develop solutions that protect coastal infrastructure while generating local renewable energy from wave power. Its Dikwe technology transforms harbor breakwaters into infrastructure capable of contributing to the energy transition of coastal regions. The demonstration unit currently deployed along the Boulogne coastline represents a major step toward the industrial deployment of this innovation.
On their own scale, the Valenciennes and Roanne University Institutes of Technology (IUTs) have developed their prototypes to conduct tests on Portel Beach. In water at 14 degrees, faculty and students didn’t hesitate to get in the water after swapping their hiking boots for wetsuits. Following these tests, Ludovic Rickaert, branch director of the Legendre Group, presented the Wave-Op project and awarded a prize to the Roanne IUT, which won the award for the most reliable project.
Gimeolex 2026 - IUT
The Valenciennes IUT's BUT'Mobile Provides Logistical Support
The BUT'Mobile is an electric educational vehicle designed to spark young people’s interest in science and technology and enable them to explore scientific topics through demonstrations and experiments. For the event, the BUT'Mobile displayed live scores on its exterior screen, but more importantly, it served as the organization’s headquarters—essential for monitoring the battery levels of the various teams and for troubleshooting potential issues with production equipment, all while sheltered from the wind and rain.
Gimeolex 2026 - IUT
Thank you to our partners!
The organization of this national competition was made possible by the support of several partner companies
- RS France, a global B2B distributor of industrial supplies, donated tools to the four students on the winning team, RS prize packs (water bottles, card games), and promotional items to all participants.
- The Legendre Group, with its Wave-Op project, is developing innovative solutions for harnessing wave energy.
- Materne, which provided Pom'Potes to students during the race.
- Lactalis, which provided milk for the teams’ breakfast.
- Refresco and the Brasserie de St Omer.
See you next year for the final edition of GIMeolex in the Hauts-de-France region—an event that changes locations every three years to ensure a constant challenge and adaptation.
Gimeolex 2026 - IUT