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Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Bridge Africa Summit Challenges Old Models of African Leadership
More than 130 young African leaders from across 30 countries have gathered for the second edition of the Bridge Africa Summit, held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University from July 17 to 19 in Benguerir. The summit, themed 'A New African Leadership', focuses on a leadership model rooted in reality, local knowledge and shared responsibility – an approach the organisers say is urgently needed to navigate the continent's major social and economic transitions. University president Hicham El Habti kicked off the summit, saying: 'Africa is the continent of the future. Fair enough. But that's only part of the story. The whole story is that the future we speak of will not arrive on its own… It must be shaped intentionally and collectively.' Hicham El Habti – President of UM6P Structured over three days, the summit's agenda moves through immersion in local transformation efforts, a phase of collective co-creation, and a final segment centred on action and long-term engagement. Sessions span public policy, social innovation, political economy, and hands-on workshops. Khalid Baddou, Chair of Bridge Africa, made it clear that this gathering is more than a parade of young African talents: 'It's not simply about identifying promising profiles, but about creating the conditions for a collective exercise of responsibility.' Participants explored the university's research centres, start-ups and tech labs, linking theory with tangible African innovation. These immersive experiences are a core part of the summit's philosophy. Khalid Baddou, Chair of Bridge Africa The Bridge Africa framework, launched last year, has already borne fruit. Since its inaugural summit, five youth-led initiatives have emerged: a tech challenge connecting Moroccan and Cameroonian students; a leadership academy in Mali; climate and textile innovation projects in Kenya and Benin; and a pan-African Bridge Academy delivering free, high-impact training. Attendees also observed a minute of silence to pay tribute to Kalou Dieudonné, a young Ivorian leader from the Bridge Africa community, who passed away this year. As the Bridge Africa summit closes, participants will present a collective declaration urging African decision-makers to reframe leadership through lived experience, local knowledge, and ethical responsibility. 'The most dangerous myth about leadership is that it's individual. You don't lead alone. You lead with, not over,' said Mr El Habti. 'And leadership, when it's done right, is not an identity. It's a responsibility.' Tags: Bridge AfricaMohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)UM6P
Morocco World
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Experts Gather at UM6P to Bridge Research and Policy on Climate, Education, Jobs
Rabat – The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Rabat brought together researchers, policymakers, and international experts for a major conference focused on how scientific research can help create better public policies in Morocco. The event was organized in partnership with the Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab (MEL) and explored the theme: 'Research in the Service of Development: Climate Change, Education, and Employment in Morocco.' The conference aimed to show how research and evidence can be used to guide decisions, especially in areas that matter most for Morocco's future: climate change and agriculture, education, and employment. These are also the main fields where MEL is currently supporting pilot projects and evaluations across the country. In his opening speech, UM6P President Hicham El Habti shared his vision for the role of research in society. He spoke of the importance of connecting science with action, noting that Morocco's development challenges – climate change, education, and employment – are deeply connected. UM6P President Hicham El Habti 'We often list them as separate priorities, but in reality, they are deeply interconnected. The way we educate influences who gains employment, the jobs we create affect how we manage our land and water, and how we respond to climate stress will challenge every institution we have,' El Habti explained. In this respect, he said we must stop treating complex issues with simple solutions. Habti explained that MEL's goal is not just to produce more analysis, but to serve as a bridge between research and real decisions. The aim is 'to build a culture where decision-making is informed by more than instinct,' but guided by evidence turned into decisions that are 'politically possible, socially inclusive and technically sound.' Evidence-based education reform Following the president's speech, Morocco's Minister of Education, Mohamed Saad Berrada, spoke about the crucial role of evidence in shaping effective and lasting education reforms. 'We are now convinced that when properly used, evidence is much more than just a technical tool. It is a major lever for sustainable transformation in Moroccan education and for the development of our country,' Berrada said. Morocco's Minister of Education, Mohamed Saad Berrada, While acknowledging the challenges of running evaluations during ongoing reforms, due to logistical and organizational complexities, he admitted the importance of having a reliable system to guide decisions. 'We chose to take on this challenge in order to have a reliable compass that allows us to quickly adjust what needs to be adjusted, while maintaining the momentum of reform and ensuring steady progress year after year,' the minister explained. 'We must act fast on climate' Keynote speaker Esther Duflo, Nobel Prize-winning economist, MIT professor, and co-founder of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), focused on how to design smart, effective policies in a world facing climate change. Duflo said that climate change is especially dangerous for low- and middle-income countries like Morocco. These countries are already very hot and dry, and as the planet warms, they will face even more extreme heat, which is harmful to both health and agriculture, she explained. She also pointed out that poor people suffer the most from climate change, because they often work outside and lack basic protections like air conditioning or stable housing. Keynote speaker Esther Duflo, Nobel Prize-winning economist, MIT professor, and co-founder of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Duflo warned that while climate finance is available globally, very little of it goes to poor countries, and even less is spent on helping them adapt. 'Unfortunately, there is very little climate finance targeted towards poor countries. And of this climate finance, almost none of it is targeted towards adaptation and compensation,' she says. Duflo called for more research to understand which policies deliver results. 'We don't have a lot of time to figure things out by following the wrong policy for 10 years,' she said. Instead, she stated that we need to quickly test new ideas, focus on what works, stop what doesn't, and scale up successful solutions. She also noted that climate adaptation research is far behind and called on Morocco to become a hub for innovation in this field. What MEL is doing in Morocco We also spoke to Florencia Devoto, the Director of MEL, who shared more about the lab's mission and current work. MEL was launched in 2024 at UM6P in partnership with J-PAL at MIT and the Harvard Center for International Development. MEL's goal is to help improve public programs through careful evaluation, Devoto explained. 'We want to show decision makers how important it is to evaluate in order to improve the programs that we implement to foster development in Morocco,' she explained. Florencia Devoto, the Director of MEL Devoto noted the close partnership with the Ministry of Education. MEL is helping the ministry measure the impact of a new teaching reform aimed at improving student learning. 'Their goal is to improve learning, and we are working with them. We created an evaluation system that allows us to accurately tell the ministry to what extent learning is improving among children,' she explained. She added that this same approach could be used in other areas like employment and climate policy. Making research useful Rema Hanna, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and MEL's scientific director, also spoke with us during the conference. She explained how the role of researchers is changing. 'Back in the day, you would think of professors as sitting in their office and doing academic work. And I think now a lot of the younger professors like myself really want to work with policy partners,' Hanna said. She explained the importance of involving local decision-makers in the research process from the beginning, adding that if policymakers are part of the process, then the research becomes something they can use. Rema Hanna, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and MEL's scientific director Hanna was particularly excited about Morocco's efforts in education, especially the strong push to innovate in schools and rethink how students learn and how teachers teach. For her, this kind of collaboration between researchers and policymakers is the key to real progress. After the opening speeches, the conference continued with three panels focused on MEL's pilot projects in Morocco. The first panel, on climate and agriculture, featured discussions about testing and scaling up farming methods that can withstand climate stress, particularly in regions already experiencing droughts and high temperatures. The education panel showcased research experiments measuring how various types of teacher support impact student success. The final panel centered on employment, addressing job training programs, the development of soft skills, and ways to better match young people with opportunities in the labor market. These panels showed how research can be practical and useful, providing real insights into what's working and where improvements are needed. Tags: ClimateEducationemploymenypolicyresearchUM6P
Morocco World
23-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
African Plant Nutrition Institute Reaches Major Milestone with Five-Year Impact Report
Gummersbach – In celebration of its fifth anniversary, the African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) has released a detailed report of how it has contributed to sustainable agriculture in Africa. The '2024 Annual Report: Celebrating Five Years of Growth' report shows definitive evidence of the potential of accurate research on plant nutrition to transform the agriculture of Africa and protect vital ecosystems. Shaping a science-led future for African agriculture Since its launch in 2019, APNI has been a trailblazer in agriculture innovation. The institute is dedicated to developing solutions that are applicable and help farmers increase yield while maintaining a stable environment. One of its main initiatives, 4R4 Africa, has been a major game-changer for fertilizer application by giving smallholder farmers precise application methods that maximize efficiency and minimize loss. Agri-field projects like Empower-OFE have brought together farmers and researchers to test and implement improved cultivation methods appropriate to the local environment. At the same time, Land CAPITAL has made great strides in revitalizing degraded farmland, demonstrating how farm production and protection of the environment can go hand in hand. In dry regions, the RAFAD project has provided farmers with knowledge and equipment to maintain food production in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather. Investing in Africa's agricultural future APNI's commitment to building local expertise is seen through its capacity-building programs. Its GROWING Africa program has trained hundreds of advanced agriculture professionals to meet Africa's unique challenges. With EXCEL Africa, the institute has encouraged new scientific leadership by providing research and mentorship grants to promising agronomists. Hicham El Habti, APNI Board Chair from 2019-2024, and UM6P president emphasized the mission change of the organization: 'Five years on from its birth, the African Plant Nutrition Institute is continuing to grow as a source of trusted knowledge on innovation for locally specific, data-driven agronomy in Africa. This 2024 Annual Report offers a chance to take our measure, reset our course, and remain steadfast to the people and purpose that drive our efforts.' The report also features numerous case studies of APNI's tangible effects on farming communities. In Burkina Faso, maize production has increased by nearly a third among farmers who are adopting APNI-recommended approaches. Comparable stories of success are found in Kenya, where small-scale farmers have experienced consistent yields in the midst of prolonged dry spells using water-saving techniques acquired through APNI research. Kaushik Majumdar, Director General of APNI, explained the institute's vision for the future: 'At APNI, we recognize that as Africa enters the next century, it will not only need more food, but also, more food of greater quality and variety to improve health outcomes,' Collaborative approach reaps rewards The accomplishments of APNI are a product of its expansive network of partnerships with national agricultural ministries, international research organizations, private industry partners, and local farming communities. These partnerships allow scientific advances to be translated into practical solutions at the field level. The institute's ability to bridge the gap between laboratory work and field application has made it a reliable source of information for farmers and policymakers. As APNI looks towards 2030, the institute maintains that it remains committed to its core values of scientific integrity, local relevance, and environmentally sustainable development. Tags: AfricaagricultureAPNIUM6P
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
AI's potential depends on ethical governance, equitable access: Expert
At a UM6P-hosted summit, academics and business leaders discussed how AI is reshaping scientific, industrial, and entrepreneurial innovation through foundational and transformative roles AI's potential will be fully realised only if its governance is ethical, access equitable, and impact globally and equally distributed, an education expert said at the Deep Tech Summit here in Morocco. At the summit, hosted by the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) here, academics and business experts brainstormed and explored the foundational role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping scientific, entrepreneurial and industrial innovation. Hicham El Habti, president of UM6P, said AI is rewriting playbooks of the industry, but its complete potential can be realised only if its governance is ethical. "AI today is a general-purpose technology that demands general-purpose responsibility. It is rewriting the playbooks of industry, reshaping value chains, and reimagining public goods. And yet, its potential will only be fully realised if we ensure that its governance is ethical, its access is equitable, and its impact is globally and equally distributed. "The debate today is less about how fast we go and more about where we are headed. It challenges us to look past the hype and ask deeper questions. Not just how fast we can move, but where, why, and for whom," Habti said. The two-day summit saw about 7000 participants from over 30 countries and 980 startups. Jalal Charaf, Chief Digital Officer at UM6P said AI is something that we all struggle to know what to do with. "It is very difficult because it's a new technology, and a lot of people even liken it to fire or electricity, because it is a general purpose technology.. it is like a drug. We don't know the dosage, we don't know the side effects, we don't know exactly what to do with it. So we are in this period of, I would say, fermentation, where we're trying to figure out what to do with it. "I think the best way to build an ecosystem is to make the maximum people aware of it and try it. We have to. We are responsible of making people test it and see what they can do with it," Charaf said. An understanding of AI technology would need to be embedded within education systems, stressed Stavaros N Yiannouka, CEO of World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), a global think tank of the Qatar Foundation, who added that dealing with AI is like interacting with a new form of intelligence. "We are really trying to connect the dots between policy research and innovation in education. Whatever we do with AI, however we harness its its potential, it has to be with an aim in mind. So, the most asked question today is what can AI do for education, and how do we harness its potential? "I think there are opportunities to personalise learning, to significantly enhance access through AI agents that can act as tutors, teaching assistants, research assistants or even co-principal investigators at some point," he said. The CEO supported that we are dealing with a new intelligence and a potentially new consciousness. "Who knows where this is going to go? We need to start thinking about how we are going to be interacting with that, with that new intelligence. We also need to think about the broader community and embed within our education system, an understanding of this technology and how we interact with it. This will help us avoid the mistakes we made with social media," he said. Steve Ciensinki, founder of Vencrest Partners, a private venture capital and advisory firm, and professor at Stanford University, US, said the advent of AI is obviously a game breaker for all of us as human beings. "Stanford has set up an institute across the university called Human-Centered AI, and the idea is to have AI work for humans, as opposed to the other way around," Ciensinki said. "This is those who have the clever agility to figure out how these markets will be changing, the courage to move forward, the resilience that startup companies need to have are going to do to really do well in this industry, in this whole area," he added. Being a new technology, AI is not yet proven, which is where science is needed, Ciensinki said. "So, instead of just having two elements -- engineering and commercialisation -- you have the third element, which is the science behind it. That's the third group that needs to be brought in, and that is hugely risky for any kind of customer or individual to use when (the technology) is all new and has never really been even invented yet. "It is going to take more people, specialised workforce and scientists. It is also going to take more capital, more equipment, and a lot more patience by investors. These venture capital funds that are going to be formed now for deep tech are going to be longer than 10 years, before we can start to see some of these technologies really take hold but undoubtedly the opportunities are immense," he said.
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.
