This Moroccan University wants to be at the centre of deeptech innovation in Africa

Located in Ben Guerir, Morocco, the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is making a bold play to become Africa’s leading hub for deeptech innovation.

This ambition was vivid at the recently concluded DeepTech Summit (DTS 2025), where over 5,000 participants converged for two days of intense engagement around artificial intelligence, sustainability, cybersecurity, healthcare, and climate resilience.

Now in its second edition, the DTS 2025 carried the theme “Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming Deep Tech” and brought together scientists, policymakers, founders, and investors under one roof. The atmosphere was electric. Demo booths buzzed with activity, stages hosted pitch competitions and panels, and conversations flowed from the future of AI and energy to the role of AI in transforming the workforce.

The university, which has become known for its futuristic campus and forward-thinking research programs, used the summit as a launchpad to showcase its growing influence on Africa’s tech and innovation scene.

In his opening remarks, Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P, stated, “At UM6P, we define deeptech not as hype, but as high-consequence innovation, where scientific breakthroughs are mobilised to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.”

This vision was echoed by the summit’s attendees and speakers, many of whom emphasised the need to use AI and science-led innovation to address structural challenges facing the continent.

Read also: DeepTech Summit 2025: Thoughts on how Africa can lead responsible AI innovation

But UM6P is not stopping at talk. The day before the summit began, Yassine Laghzioui, CEO of UM6P Ventures, met with journalists to highlight how the university is building a thriving deeptech ecosystem.

He pointed to initiatives such as FORGE, StartGate, UM6P Explorer, and several partnership-led accelerators through which the university has supported over 500 startups since 2020. These startups, many focused on agritech, cleantech, and healthtech, have collectively raised over $60 million in funding.

DeepTech Summit: deserving startups get DTS Prize

The highlight of the summit was the DTS Prize. Tunisia’s Cure Bionics won in the Life Sciences category, Morocco’s Sand to Green took home the Green Economy prize, and Kenya’s Nyungu Afrika was named Most Promising African Startup.

Each winner received $50,000 with access to UM6P’s research labs and investor network.

The scale and diversity of DTS 2025 reflect the university’s growing stature in the global innovation landscape. Compared to 2,000 participants last year, this year’s edition attracted over 5,000 attendees, with more than 980 startups represented.

More than half of the registrants were international. The event featured 186 speakers, 66 sessions, and over 20 strategic partners. From AI governance and quantum computing to practical workshops and investor lounges, the summit balanced big ideas and tangible outcomes.

UM6P’s deeptech focus is part of a broader strategy by Morocco to claim a niche in global technology leadership. Emerging areas such as synthetic biology, materials science, and AI-powered sustainability are becoming central to the university’s agenda.

By aligning academic research with entrepreneurship and industry needs, UM6P is creating a loop where innovation is cultivated and commercialised within a unified ecosystem.

Speaking to Technext at the close of the summit, Laghzioui made it clear that impact, not noise, is what matters. “We are not aiming for tens of thousands of attendees,” he said. “We are aiming for meaningful deals, quality partnerships, and stronger positioning for Africa in the deeptech space.”

“This is not a tech show,” Laghzioui explained. “It’s a platform for collaboration, networking, and most importantly, action. We are building real bridges between startups, mentors, investors, and incubators.”

UM6P’s deeptech focus is part of a broader strategy by Morocco to carve out a niche in global technology leadership, especially within emerging areas like synthetic biology, materials science, and AI-powered sustainability.

By aligning academic research with entrepreneurship and industry needs, the university is creating a loop where innovation is both cultivated and commercialised in a single ecosystem. It’s a model that offers lessons for other African institutions seeking to leapfrog traditional barriers to technological development.

He added that UM6P’s infrastructure, from its Living Labs and advanced research centres to its investor networks and startup accelerators, is being made available to the broader African innovation ecosystem.

“Our DNA is African, and our ambition is global,” he said. “We want to work hand in hand with universities, incubators, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs across the continent. It’s a collective journey.”

Still, the road ahead will require deeper collaboration across the continent and with global partners. Deeptech ventures demand patient capital, interdisciplinary talent, and enabling policies. UM6P is already taking steps in this direction through expanded PhD programs, policy engagements, and international partnerships.

If its current trajectory is anything to go by, UM6P may not just become the deeptech capital of Africa, it could also become a globally recognised force in shaping the technologies of the future.