Influences
OCP-Ministry of Education: Launch of the National Program to Support Research, for 1 Billion MAD
This program, established through a joint fund created by the ministry and OCP and spread over four editions between 2025 and 2028, aims to stimulate scientific and technological research of excellence, while training a new generation of young researchers.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation officially launched the National Program to Support Research, Development, and Innovation (PNARDI) on Monday in Benguérir.
This program is part of the implementation of a framework agreement signed on this occasion by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui, and the Chairman and CEO of the OCP Group, Mostafa Terrab, to make research and innovation essential drivers of national development through project calls in priority themes.
With a budget of 1 billion dirhams, through a joint fund by the ministry and the OCP Group, spread over four editions between 2025 and 2028, and with 200 million dirhams specifically aimed at mobilizing Moroccan skills residing abroad in the national research and innovation system, this program aims to stimulate scientific and technological research of excellence, while training a new generation of young researchers ready to face tomorrow’s challenges and mobilize and diversify the resources and means essential for financing the National Scientific Research System.
It also involves making a substantial and regular investment in favor of excellent scientific research capable of elevating Morocco to the rank of major nations in terms of research, innovation, and training.
The PNARDI, a result of a partnership with the OCP Foundation, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), is part of the implementation of the Royal High Directives aiming to make scientific research and innovation essential levers for sustainable development, national competitiveness, and international influence.
It also responds to the Royal Directives calling for the strengthening of human capital and greater mobilization of Moroccan skills residing abroad, by encouraging their involvement in the national ecosystem of research and innovation.
In perfect coherence with the provisions of Framework Law No. 51-17 related to education, training, and scientific research, this program aligns with the Ministry’s strategy to revitalize research and innovation and put them at the service of the socio-economic progress of the Kingdom.
The PNARDI advocates for a partnership-based co-financing approach between the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation and the OCP Foundation, and the collaboration of the CNRST and UM6P for its effective deployment.
It is also distinguished by an integrated and mobilizing approach, inscribed in a regular temporal dynamic and perfectly adapted to Morocco’s national priorities and sovereignty challenges.
The PNARDI aims to strengthen scientific excellence in several strategic sectors, including water, phosphate extraction, treatment, and valorization and their derivatives, health, food security, renewable energies, human and social sciences.
Through this partnership, UM6P will contribute its living labs, world-class research infrastructure, and international partnership network to accelerate the positive impacts of this new fund.
This first edition of the PNARDI is divided into three complementary sub-programs; namely, the R&D Young Researchers Program (IBN BATTOUTA), which supports the emergence of new generations of scientists, the R&D Priority Themes Program (IBN ALBANNA) targeting strategic axes with high innovation potential, and the Technology Transfer Program (NEFZAOUIA) dedicated to strengthening the link between research and economic needs by promoting the creation of wealth from scientific advances.
Three specific conventions related to the implementation of these three sub-programs were signed during the official launch ceremony of this program, which took place in the presence of the Secretary-General of the OCP Foundation, Abdelhadi Sohaib, the Director of the CNRST, Jamila El Alami, the President of UM6P, Hicham El Habti, prominent figures from the academic and research world, as well as representatives of national institutions.
