Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Opens Its First Branch in the United States to Strengthen Bridges Between Africa and the World
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) opened a new branch in the United States yesterday, featuring offices in New York and Cambridge. This initiative aims to enhance connections between African talents and research systems and global academic, industrial, and entrepreneurial networks.
This project is part of a strategy to leverage global knowledge networks, capital, and technology to support sustainable development ambitions in Africa, while also solidifying existing partnerships and launching new collaborations with American universities and research centers. It will facilitate the launch of joint research projects and academic exchange programs.
During the inauguration ceremony, the university’s president, Hicham El Habti, emphasized that this initiative reflects a strong commitment to establishing quality cooperation between Africa and the world’s leading knowledge and innovation hubs. He noted that the goal is to respond to the development challenges facing Morocco and the continent by combining rigorous scientific research with tangible and scalable solutions, aiming to enhance technological sovereignty.
The new branch serves as a two-way bridge, providing African entrepreneurs and startups with access to technology networks, venture capital, and industrial expertise in North America, while facilitating the transfer and adaptation of American innovations to fit African contexts.
El Habti explained that American universities are exemplary models in linking education with innovation, and reminded attendees that UM6P is already collaborating with prestigious institutions like MIT, Arizona State University, Stanford University, and Columbia Business School in areas including climate-smart agriculture, sustainable energy, mining, artificial intelligence, and green hydrogen.
Mehdi Khattab, the director of the American branch, affirmed that this opening translates the university’s commitment to building cooperation bridges that allow African students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to fully benefit from and contribute to the global knowledge-based economy.
The American campus will provide a platform for launching joint research projects addressing key issues related to sustainable development in Africa, as well as connecting African startups with the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Educational programs will be introduced, enabling students and professionals to immerse themselves in the business and innovation landscapes of both Africa and the United States.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Youssef Amrani, Morocco’s Ambassador to Washington, and Omar Hilale, the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, alongside notable American figures from academia and entrepreneurship, as well as members of the Moroccan community residing in the United States.
