UM6P: A Think Tank That Has Become a Driving Force for Africa

In Benguerir, in the heart of the Marrakech-Safi region, a university is reshaping higher education. Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), created in 2017 under the impetus of the OCP Group, resembles no other.

Here, research does not remain confined to laboratories; it enters the fields, the factories, the start-ups, and the curious minds who want to change the world. It is a place where innovation is experienced daily, at the crossroads of science, entrepreneurship, and social engagement.

In just a few years, UM6P has built a true ecosystem where everything connects: training, research, incubation, financing. What some now call “the UM6P effect” is this ability to transform a scientific idea into a concrete project, to make technology a tool for development rather than an end in itself.

The key to the model is this permanent connection between theory and the field. In these research centers—whether in artificial intelligence, energy, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology or data science—researchers work hand in hand with entrepreneurs and industrial players. Together, they explore, test and create to address very real challenges: feeding better, producing better, preserving better…

In Benguerir, scientific sovereignty is not just talked about—it is practiced. The university trains a generation of talents who think differently about progress: more sustainable, more inclusive, and more African.

The Forge: When Science Becomes a Start-Up

At the heart of this effervescence lies a place that embodies the UM6P spirit: The Forge. This unique incubation and venture-building program takes researchers from the laboratory to business, and ideas to action. The objective: to give rise to high-impact technological and environmental start-ups designed to meet the needs of the continent.

More than an incubator, The Forge operates as a true venture factory, fueled by scientific research on campus and supported by industrial partners. This is where emblematic projects have emerged. Sand to Green, for example, transforms arid land into agricultural oases thanks to sustainable irrigation techniques.

Smartprof is revolutionizing access to tutoring and lifelong learning. IZI Proteine relies on insects to produce alternative proteins and reduce food dependency. Solar iCleaner automates the cleaning of solar panels to boost green energy production. So many initiatives that prove that innovation can have meaning and impact.

UM6P does not limit itself to supporting these projects—it reinvents how they are created. Its “venture science” approach connects research directly to entrepreneurship. Researchers, engineers, students, and investors work together to transform a discovery into a viable company. It is this alliance between knowledge and boldness that attracts impact investment funds seeking in Benguerir a credible and visionary model.

And the impact now extends beyond Moroccan borders. Entrepreneurs from Senegal, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Egypt choose UM6P to design and test their solutions. Here, Africa innovates for itself, building a knowledge economy capable of addressing its own challenges.

But behind the technologies and start-ups, the university maintains a strong conviction: it is people who make the difference. Through programs such as African Digital School or School of Collective Intelligence, UM6P teaches its students to innovate together, to code, to undertake, but also to think differently. Digital technology becomes a tool for empowerment, a bridge toward a more inclusive economy.

Today, the Benguerir campus attracts talents, researchers, and investors from around the world. It helps diversify the national economy, create skilled jobs, and export Moroccan know-how. Looking toward 2030, the ambition is clear: multiply African success stories, strengthen the links between science, sustainability, and sovereignty, and continue to prove that innovation and impact can advance hand in hand.

The UM6P effect is above all a philosophy: that of a Morocco that believes in its potential and relies on knowledge to shape its technological future.

UM6P Ventures: Catalyst of African Venture Capital

Since its launch in 2021, UM6P Ventures has established itself as a major player in venture capital in Africa. With nearly 30 start-ups financed, this subsidiary of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University has made it its mission to structure an innovation ecosystem that is both Moroccan and pan-African.

Its credo: supporting Deep Tech and high-impact digital start-ups capable of addressing the continent’s challenges while competing on the global stage. Backed by UM6P’s incubation ecosystem, notably StartGate, the fund identifies, finances, and supports the most promising young ventures.

“Our role is to go further, to offer tailor-made support to structure the technology, refine the business model and accelerate market entry”, emphasizes the UM6P Ventures team. To date, the fund has invested in 21 Moroccan start-ups and 8 international ones, illustrating its ambition for international expansion.

Among its successes: DeepEcho (healthtech), which develops precision medical imaging AI for Africa and the United States; Sensthings (blockchain & edtech), a spin-off from UM6P and pioneer in blockchain-based diploma authentication; and Weego (mobility & smart city), which optimizes urban transport and is establishing itself as a regional reference.

These examples reflect the vision of UM6P Ventures: building a bridge between science, innovation, and impact to bring forth the African technological champions of tomorrow.