Morocco’s University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) has inaugurated its US Global Hub with new offices in New York and Cambridge, creating a strategic platform to connect African research and talent with American academic, entrepreneurial, and industrial ecosystems.
The hub, launched on September 8, 2025 in New York in the presence of Morocco’s ambassadors to the US and the UN, becomes UM6P’s third international hub after Canada and France. The move positions the university as a bridge between African innovation ecosystems and global centers of knowledge.
Addressing Africa’s Innovation Gaps
The US hub is designed to address three structural challenges facing Africa’s innovation landscape:
- Limited integration with global knowledge networks
- Underutilization of diaspora intellectual capital
- Weak adaptation of global technologies to African contexts
“UM6P was built on the idea that Africa’s future will be shaped by talent, science, and innovation rooted in local realities but connected globally,” said Mehdi El Khatib, Managing Director of UM6P’s Global Hubs.
The hub will facilitate joint research projects, academic exchanges, and startup pathways that connect African entrepreneurs with US venture capital and technology partners.
Scaling an Impact-Driven Academic Model
Since its founding in 2017, UM6P has grown to 7,300 students from 40 nationalities, including 1,000 PhD candidates. Notably, 80% of students receive scholarships, with 60% fully funded, reflecting the institution’s focus on accessibility.
The university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has supported more than 1,000 founders and established over 200 partnerships with global universities, research centers, and industrial leaders, including top US institutions.
Strategic Research Priorities
UM6P’s research focus areas are closely aligned with African and global sustainability goals, including:
- Sustainable agriculture
- Renewable energy and green transition
- Artificial intelligence and data science
- Water security
- Industrial innovation
Through the US hub, African researchers will be able to co-develop solutions with American counterparts while adapting global innovations to African realities.
Diaspora Mobilization
A key strategy of the hub is mobilizing North America’s African diaspora — both intellectual and entrepreneurial — to contribute expertise, networks, and capital to African-focused initiatives. The success of this approach will hinge on effectively engaging professionals with compelling opportunities for collaboration.
Broader Global Positioning
With hubs in Canada, France, and now the US, UM6P is building a global network that strengthens Morocco’s role as a gateway to Africa for research, innovation, and investment. This expansion provides access to diverse funding streams, advanced research capabilities, and new markets.
Observers note that the university’s “impact-driven academic and industrial collaboration” model could inspire other African institutions to pursue reciprocal international partnerships rather than traditional North-South models of academic exchange.
Challenges Ahead
Despite UM6P’s strong foundation, operating in the highly competitive US academic and startup ecosystem will require significant resources and cultural adaptation. Success will depend on identifying high-value, mutually beneficial collaborations that go beyond one-way knowledge transfer.
If successful, UM6P’s initiative could reshape Africa’s higher education and research landscape, proving that African universities can play a central role in global innovation networks.
