馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Moroccan ministries partner with ALTEN Maroc on AI and Industry 4.0 initiatives
via Le Matin3 min read
Three Moroccan ministries have partnered with ALTEN Maroc to advance artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0, aligning with Royal Directives to develop human capital for digital transformation and industrial growth. The collaboration aims to equip young people with advanced technological skills, strengthen public-private synergies, and enhance the university's role in innovation and economic development. This initiative supports the "Morocco Digital 2030" strategy and the "AI Made in Morocco" roadmap, positioning Morocco as a leader in responsible technological innovation and sovereign technologies. The partnership focuses on three key areas: upskilling Moroccan talent in digital and AI fields, accelerating industrial transition to Industry 4.0 with advanced R&D, and boosting the Kingdom's attractiveness for high-tech investments. The cooperation is structured around four pillars: Research & Development, focusing on co-developing AI algorithms for predictive maintenance, assisted design, simulation, industrial optimization, and automated quality control; Sectoral Accelerators, deploying advanced technological solutions for transport industries like automotive, aeronautics, and rail; Technology Platforms, providing testing and prototyping environments such as digital twins and numerical simulation for local industrial players; and Training and Skills, developing targeted programs in applied AI, advanced engineering, and digital transformation in partnership with Moroccan univ
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadThe United Nations has issued a warning that artificial intelligence is advancing at a faster pace than the public policies designed to regulate it. The UN highlighted that the performance of the most advanced AI models has significantly increased, showing a jump from 8% to 45% on "Humanity's Last Exam" in just 16 months. This rapid progress suggests a growing gap between technological development and the capacity of states to implement effective oversight and governance frameworks for AI.
Morocco's trade deficit increased by 20.8% to 159.07 billion dirhams by the end of May 2026, up from 131.71 billion dirhams a year prior, according to the Office des Changes. This widening deficit is attributed to imports growing faster than exports, leading to a 3.2-point decrease in the import coverage rate, from 60.3% to 57.1%. Merchandise imports reached 370.49 billion dirhams, an 11.8% increase, or 39.043 billion dirhams more than the same period in 2025. This rise was primarily driven by a 18.7% increase in finished equipment products, including aircraft and other aerial or spatial vehicles, parts, and utility vehicles. The energy bill also saw a significant 20.7% increase, mainly due to higher purchases of diesel, fuel oils, and petroleum oils and lubricants. Raw product imports rose by 42.5%, largely due to increased imports of crude and unrefined sulfur and scrap iron, waste, and other ores, though crude or refined olive oil purchases decreased. Exports also grew, reaching 211.41 billion dirhams by the end of May 2026, a 5.8% increase from 199.73 billion dirhams a year earlier. The automotive sector remained the primary driver, with exports increasing by 15.9%, particularly in car manufacturing and wiring. Aeronautical exports also saw a 14.2% rise, mainly from the assembly segment. In contrast, phosphate and derivative exports declined by 11.2%, primarily due to reduced sales of natural and chemical fertilizers and phosphates. Despite the trade deficit, other extern
Oncorad Group has announced two significant advancements in robotic surgery, coinciding with the two-year anniversary of its dedicated program. The first is a strategic partnership with ORSI Academy, a Belgian center specializing in robotic and minimally invasive surgical training. This collaboration aims to enhance the training of African surgeons in robotic technologies through advanced simulation, mentorship, and scientific exchanges, with the goal of establishing new centers of excellence across Africa. Dr. Youness Ahallal, a professor of robotic surgery at ORSI Academy and urological surgeon at Oncorad Group, will contribute his expertise to this initiative. The second major development is the successful completion of the first bidirectional robotic tele-surgery between Europe and Africa. Two robot-assisted operations were performed simultaneously: one in Casablanca at Littoral Clinic Ain Diab, and another in Belgium at ORSI Academy. Surgeons remotely controlled robots on different continents, with one operating from Africa to Europe and the other from Belgium to Casablanca. This achievement was facilitated by a secure, low-latency connection supported by Orange Maroc and its international partners. Oncorad Group views tele-surgery as a means to improve access to specialized care by overcoming geographical barriers, fostering expertise sharing among international hospitals, and promoting more equitable patient care, especially in regions with limited specialized medical