New Partnerships to Enhance Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Morocco’s Transport and Logistics Sector
Three partnership agreements were signed between the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Institute for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering during a ceremony chaired by Minister Abdel Samad Ghioua and His Majesty the King’s advisor, André Azoulay. This initiative aims to promote scientific and technological research in the transport and logistics sector.
The agreements, which fall under the implementation of a framework agreement signed between the two parties in June 2024, seek to develop innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence and machine learning in vital sectors, including rail transport, airports, and logistics services. The first agreement, between the National Office of Railways and the institute, focuses on developing multimodal transport management systems and automating the detection of surface defects in high-speed trains. The second agreement, signed with the National Office of Airports, aims to enhance safety in air traffic control and provide a mobile application for real-time information and flow management within airports. The third agreement, signed with the National Company of Transport and Logistics, centers on utilizing machine learning to improve fleet maintenance and predict failures.
Minister Ghioua emphasized that this initiative reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting national innovation and linking scientific research to the needs of strategic sectors, highlighting the importance of mobilizing Moroccan talent to contribute to producing local technological solutions to current challenges. He noted that these agreements pave the way for future professions and encourage the creation of collaborative spaces for research and development of AI-based solutions.
For his part, Azoulay described the signing of these agreements as a historic turning point, affirming that the institute, which comprises hundreds of high-level researchers, has become a direct partner of strategic institutions in the state. He indicated that this step allows for the integration of science and innovation at the core of the operations of transport and logistics institutions, thereby enhancing the status of Moroccan expertise that was previously excluded from executing these tasks, which were often assigned to foreign entities.
The Institute for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering serves as a multifunctional platform aimed at supporting national innovation through research, training, the creation of startups, and the valorization of industrial results, making it a key player in advancing technological transformation in the Kingdom.
