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Morocco World
17-02-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
Morocco Takes Lead in Shaping Global Scientific Future at UM6P Science Week
Ben Guerir – The fifth edition of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University's (UM6P) annual Science Week kicked off today with a powerful message about Africa's emerging role in global scientific leadership. In his inaugural speech, UM6P's president Hicham El Habti said that 'Africa must not only participate in global scientific progress but lead it.' Speaking of the challenges that Africa faces , he said that 'the solutions to our continent's unique challenges – from food security to climate resilience – must come from African talent, African innovation, and African leadership.' UM6P's president Hicham El Habti The week-long event, themed 'Shaping the Future,' comes at a critical time for global challenges. El Habti noted that 'by 2050, global food production must increase by 60% to feed a projected 10 billion people,' while 'atmospheric CO2 levels have now reached 427 parts per million.' On UM6P's position as a scientific hub in Africa, the university is now home to over 7,200 students, including 1,000 PhD candidates. 'We are not just a university; we are a scientific ecosystem,' El Habti noted, adding that 'this is a place where curiosity is encouraged, solutions emerge through collaboration, and science becomes a bridge between knowledge and action.' Science Week scientific director Fouad Laroui Following the opening speech, Science Week scientific director Fouad Laroui spoke of the event's significance for scientists to reconsider how they see science. Through a presentation titled 'Does Science Really Think?', he elaborated on the crucial role of scientists throughout history in coming up with solutions that address human challenges. He answered this question, talking about the evolution of science by urging future scientists to use their critical minds in coming up with innovative ideas that take into consideration ethics and morals. 'Science doesn't think, scientists should,' he said. Read also: UM6P's Science Week Hopes to Transform Morocco Into Scientific Hub 'Science is not just about knowledge – it is about action,' El Habti concluded. 'It is about transforming research into real-world solutions. It is about ensuring that innovation serves humanity.' A flagship week of innovation Science Week at UM6P has emerged as a cornerstone event in Africa's scientific calendar, bringing together global expertise with local talent. Speaking to the press, including Morocco World News, Laroui said that 'this is the most important week in the year at UM6P, because we convene at the same place scientists and professors from all over the world.' 'They are mixed with our own researchers and our students, discussing all kinds of topics – agriculture, computers, architecture, engineering – everything at the frontier of science.' Laroui spoke of the university's foundational mission, saying: 'We should not lag behind Europe and America, as we have done for 200 years. This time is finished. We can be at the top of science and we will be at the top of science.' The event's significance extends beyond Morocco to the entire African continent. 'It's a great opportunity for students and researchers coming from all over Africa to bring the voice of Africa in different areas, the food security, the health, the industry,' El Habti said. 'The future of humanity will be shaped here in Africa in different areas – food security, health, industry.' El Habti also mentioned UM6P's role as a platform enabling crucial conversations about humanity's future, bringing together renowned scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders under one roof to shape tomorrow's solutions. The Science Week program continues through February 23, featuring sessions on artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, future careers, and the intersection of science, ethics, and philosophy, reflecting UM6P's commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.
Morocco World
29-01-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
UM6P, STATION F Partner to Empower Agritech, Greentech, and Healthtech Startups
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has announced a partnership with STATION F, a global startup campus supporting over 1,000 startups manually. In a statement today, UM6P said the partnership aims to promote innovation while bridging Europe and Africa through a program called NextAfrica. The program "aims to support and accelerate the development of international startups interested in the African market," the statement explained. It added that the goal is to focus on sectors like Greentech, Agritech, and health tech. This focus aligns with UM6P's approach, said UM6P President Hicham El Habti. He argued that the alliance with STATION F reflects UM6P's ambition to connect African and European talents, "within an innovative entrepreneurial environment." In particular, El Habti added, the partnership will provide startups with tools to "tackle AFRICA's technological, economic, and environmental challenges while strengthening this bridge between the two contents." He concluded that UM6P aims to deepen its role in creating "an ecosystem of excellence." Read also: NBA Africa, UM6P Launch Landmark Youth Basketball Initiative in Morocco STATION F's representative echoed this upbeat sentiment as she also expressed satisfaction with what she described as a promising partnership. Roxanne Varza, Director of STATION F, said the partnership "will only strengthen key and strategic sectors for us, notably Greentech and Healttech, as well as our connection with Morocco." Morocco is currently the third most represented country at STATION F, Varza concluded. As part of the newly signed partnership, the joint project stands to offer opportunities, mentorship, and funding possibilities for startups seeking to enter African markets. It also seeks to provide scientific expertise through UM6P's resources like laboratories, with the goal of boosting innovation and research on the African continent. The program will also bridge between startups and key players in Morocco and across Africa, allowing integration into the STATION F ecosystem that will enable entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth. The NextAfrica program offers international support to 20 Greentech and Healthtech startups per year, providing them with access to both STATION F's entrepreneurial ecosystem in Paris and resources of UM6P's campus in Morocco.
