AI and Africa's Big Leap: Deep Tech Summit Kicks Off in Morocco
Over two days, the summit hopes to bring together founders, investors, academics and policymakers from over 50 countries. With over a thousand startups in attendance, this year's second edition focuses on how AI is accelerating breakthroughs in everything from ailment diagnosis, drug discovery, and green energy.
'This summit was never meant to be just another conference,' said Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P. 'It's a statement – a call to push boundaries, rethink progress, and include everyone in that journey.' Hicham El Habti calls to push boundaries, rethink progress, and include everyone in that journey.
El Habti pointed during his opening speech to Africa's young minds, noting that over half of the continent's population is under 24. 'That's our greatest asset,' he said. 'We must give this generation the tools and space to imagine, create and lead.'
The program includes more than 60 sessions, ranging from cybersecurity to the green economy, as well as reverse pitches — where investors must convince startups — and experimental formats aimed at sparking real-world solutions.
Yassine Laghzioui, CEO of UM6P Ventures, pointed to the speed at which AI is now reshaping the deep tech ecosystem. 'In the past, breakthrough technologies took decades. Today, we're talking about months,' he said. 'AI is compressing the journey from theory to market.' Yassine Laghzioui pointed to the speed at which AI is now reshaping the deep tech ecosystem
He cited DeepMind's AlphaFold as a prime example. 'It cracked the protein folding problem. That alone is changing the game in drug discovery.'
For Laghzioui, the moment is ripe. 'Africa sees it. Morocco sees it. We have the talent, the ambition, and now the opportunity that AI presents.'
Also attending the summit is Steve Ciesinski, a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business and former president of SRI International.
'When I first heard about the Deep Tech Summit, I wasn't quite sure what to expect,' he admitted. 'But I've been genuinely impressed. The talent, the energy, the calibre of discussions — it's remarkable.' Steve Ciesinski says AI now features in nearly a third of his students' projects
Ciesinski says AI now features in nearly a third of his students' projects. 'The idea is not to replace humans, but to enhance them. AI should work for people, not the other way around.'
He added that deep tech isn't for the faint-hearted. 'It comes with higher risk and longer timelines. But for those who make it through, the rewards are massive, both financially and socially.'
Deep Tech Summit runs May 8–9, with AI stealing the show. From healthcare and agritech to clean energy, the goal's simple: leapfrog Africa's development with big, bold, and brainy solutions.
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