Around twenty researchers and faculty members from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) participated in presenting these projects, which were conducted in collaboration with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the University of La Laguna (ULL).

This initiative is part of the Africa Canarias Challenge program, launched by the Directorate General of Relations with Africa, under the Canarian government, and implemented by the Canarian startup association Emerge.

The projects showcased during the event covered diverse fields, including the development of pharmaceutical formulas from Atlantic microalgae, the valorization of desalination brines for industrial applications, the use of biowaste to produce activated charcoal, and the application of neural networks for diagnosing childhood diseases, according to a statement by the government of the Canary Islands.

During their stay in the Canary Islands, UM6P researchers visited renowned scientific institutions such as the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC), the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC), and the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), the same source added.

Luis Padilla Macabeo, the Director General of Relations with Africa, emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration with Morocco during the 3rd Atlantic Africa Startup Forum as a means to foster a shared space of prosperity.

“Our goal is to create a regional space of prosperity through the active participation of academic, scientific, economic, and social stakeholders,” said Padilla Macabeo, as cited in the statement.

This third edition establishes the Africa Canarias Challenge program as a key driver of scientific and technological diplomacy, promoting innovative and sustainable solutions through strong public-private partnerships.

The same source noted that this initiative follows the recent visit to Morocco by the President of the Canarian government, Fernando Clavijo, and reflects the commitment of both parties to exploring new avenues of cooperation in strategic fields such as scientific research, renewable energy, health, and the circular economy.