Latest news with #YassineLaghzioui
Morocco World
09-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Africa Takes the Lead at UM6P Deep Tech Summit
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir wrapped up the second edition of the Deep Tech Summit (DTS) this week, gathering over 5,500 participants from 53 countries. Under the theme 'Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming Deep Tech,' the two-day event brought together startups, investors, academics, and policymakers to explore how Africa can shape the future of science and industry. Spanning 66 sessions across key areas like AI, cybersecurity, biotech, agritech, and climate tech, the summit focused on Africa's growing role in tackling global challenges through science and innovation. The DTS Prize was the centrepiece. Tunisia's Cure Bionics won in Life Sciences, Morocco's Sand to Green took the Green Economy prize, and Kenya's Nyungu Afrika was named Most Promising African Startup. Each winner walked away with $50,000 and access to UM6P's research labs and investor network. Startups also pitched live to top investors in formats like Reverse Pitch and Pitch in the Dark. The Deepfake Challenge, run with INWI, tackled misinformation by bringing together researchers and students to build AI-powered solutions. Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship at UM6P, said the event proved that real impact happens when science meets markets, industry, and long-term investment. Key partnerships with Attijariwafa Bank, Africorp Consortium, and H&S were announced to boost tech R&D, startup acceleration, and talent development across Africa. Yassine Laghzioui, CEO of UM6P Ventures, said the event proved that real impact happens when science meets markets, industry, and long-term investment.
Morocco World
09-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Africa Takes the Lead at Deep Tech Summit at UM6P
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir wrapped up the second edition of the Deep Tech Summit (DTS) this week, gathering over 5,500 participants from 53 countries. Under the theme 'Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming Deep Tech,' the two-day event brought together startups, investors, academics, and policymakers to explore how Africa can shape the future of science and industry. Spanning 66 sessions across key areas like AI, cybersecurity, biotech, agritech, and climate tech, the summit focused on Africa's growing role in tackling global challenges through science and innovation. The DTS Prize was the centrepiece. Tunisia's Cure Bionics won in Life Sciences, Morocco's Sand to Green took the Green Economy prize, and Kenya's Nyungu Afrika was named Most Promising African Startup. Each winner walked away with $50,000 and access to UM6P's research labs and investor network. Startups also pitched live to top investors in formats like Reverse Pitch and Pitch in the Dark. The Deepfake Challenge, run with INWI, tackled misinformation by bringing together researchers and students to build AI-powered solutions. Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship at UM6P, said the event proved that real impact happens when science meets markets, industry, and long-term investment. Key partnerships with Attijariwafa Bank, Africorp Consortium, and H&S were announced to boost tech R&D, startup acceleration, and talent development across Africa. Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship at UM6P, said the event proved that real impact happens when science meets markets, industry, and long-term investment.
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AI and Africa's Big Leap: Deep Tech Summit Kicks Off in Morocco
The Deep Tech Summit kicked off today at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir, with a bold ambition: to show how artificial intelligence is shaping deep tech, and why Africa shouldn't just follow the trend, but lead it. 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.
Morocco World
07-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
UM6P Turns Heads With Deep Tech Summit
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) kicked off the Deep Tech Summit (DTS) with the bold intent to position Africa at the forefront of global scientific innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital sovereignty. This year's summit focuses on how artificial intelligence is reshaping deep tech. 'This is not a tech show,' said Yassine Laghzioui, UM6P's Director of Entrepreneurship and Venturing, as he opened the DTS. 'We're bringing together founders, researchers, and investors to tackle real problems in real time.' The summit gathers over 7,000 participants – over half of them coming from different parts of the world – to attend more than 60 sessions over two days, all set on UM6P's fast-growing green campus. The event includes panel discussions, experimental showrooms, deeptech factories and sittings for one-off reverse pitches, pitches in the dark, and elevator pitches. 'Why should the entrepreneur always be the one begging? We flipped it. Now the VCs must convince them,' he added, describing one of the summit's standout formats – the reverse pitch – where investors pitch to startups, not the other way around. Yassine Laghzioui says that this summit brings together founders, researchers, and investors to tackle real problems in real time Founded by the OCP Foundation and part of the phosphate giant OCP Group, UM6P has grown into one of Africa's most ambitious research universities. At the press conference, Amina Lahbabi, the university's Director of Communication and Public Relations, explained why. 'We're a Moroccan and African university, built for Africa, by Africans,' she said. 'We started by supporting OCP's R&D, but today we're working on solutions for the whole continent — in agriculture, AI, biotechnology, renewable energy, and more.' The university's Benguerir campus, spread over 80 hectares, was built with one goal: to create a city of knowledge. It includes 'living labs' where students and researchers test ideas in real-world conditions — from experimental mining to green hydrogen production. UM6P also houses Africa's most powerful supercomputer, helping researchers tackle big problems in data science and climate tech. Lahbabi pointed to the university's rapid growth with 7,200 students across multiple campuses, with 61% coming from African countries. More than 80% are on scholarships, and 60% have full funding. 'Excellence and meritocracy matter here. Financial status should never be a barrier,' she said. Amina Lahbabi says that excellence and meritocracy matter at UM6P UM6P has also gone global, with new hubs in Paris, Montréal, and soon to be one in Côte d'Ivoire and Mexico. 'We're building bridges between Africa and the world,' Lahbabi said. 'And we're showing that Morocco can be a hub for research, innovation, and soft power.' The university's community work is just as important. In Rhamna, where the main campus sits, UM6P is running more than 20 local development projects from culture and sport to health and education. They've even partnered with the NBA's junior program to launch Africa's first basketball school. This year's Deep Tech Summit wants to turn Benguerir into Africa's deep tech capital and prove that world-class science and startups don't just belong in Silicon Valley or Europe — they belong in Morocco and in Africa too.
Morocco World
24-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
UM6P DeepTech Summit to Explore How AI is Transforming Africa's Industrial Future
Rabat — Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is set to host its second edition of DeepTech Summit on May 8-9, 2025, focusing on artificial intelligence's (AI) transformative impact on innovation across Africa. The two-day event will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions at UM6P's Benguerir campus. This year's summit is going to be held under the theme 'Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming DeepTech Innovation.' The event will explore how AI is reshaping scientific, entrepreneurial, and industrial landscapes throughout Africa and beyond. 'This second edition captures a key moment, where AI is reshaping the landscape of DeepTech, from the lab to the value chain,' said Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship and Venturing at UM6P and CEO of the UM6P Ventures. 'It's a call to connect technological breakthroughs with real-world challenges, with Africa as a living lab of innovation,' he added. The summit builds on UM6P's mission to come up with applied innovation specifically designed for African contexts. It will 'serve as a platform for collective experimentation and dialogue between science, industry, and society,' a statement from UM6P said. New to this year's program is the DTS Prize, which will be competed for by a pool of groundbreaking startups using advanced technologies to tackle critical challenges in healthcare, renewable energy, and other sectors. Read also: UM6P Ventures, Attijariwafa Ventures Partner to Boost African Innovation The academic event will be a platform to provide startups several opportunities to connect with potential investors, including pitch sessions and specialized matchmaking activities such as the CVC Track, Pitch Me in the Dark, and Reverse Pitch. According to the organizers, these events aim to create meaningful interactions between innovators and financial, industrial, academic, and institutional partners. Quantum computing emerges as a key focus area in this year's edition. Although some technical and financial challenges exist, interest in this field is growing across Africa, particularly for its applications in precision medicine, cybersecurity, molecular modeling, and advanced AI. 'Quantum computing is gaining traction as a disruptive frontier, particularly promising for African ecosystems seeking to leapfrog traditional development stages,' the statement noted. The DTS Prize finalists, selected from over 150 applications, will receive increased visibility, structured support, and funding opportunities. A special award will recognize an initiative led by an African ecosystem, reinforcing the summit's goal of strengthening the continent's role in global scientific and technological development. The 2025 DeepTech Summit positions Africa at a strategic crossroads, calling attention to how Africa's demographic momentum, emerging entrepreneurial hubs, and unique challenges can drive innovation in key sectors like agriculture, water, energy, healthcare, and education. For more information or to register, the university calls on those interested to visit the website . Tags: DeepTechDeepTech SummitMohammed VI Polytechnic UniversityUM6P
