🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Scientific diplomacy: an underutilized lever of influence in Morocco
via Le Matin4 min read
In an international context marked by multiple crises, traditional diplomacy is no longer sufficient, with data, research, and expertise increasingly shaping power dynamics between states. Scientific diplomacy is emerging as a strategic tool for countries seeking influence. In Morocco, this issue is central to a recent policy paper by the Policy Center for the New South PCNS, titled "The Strategic Role of Moroccan Universities in Scientific Diplomacy." Khalid Temsamani, a professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University and the paper's author, discussed these challenges on the "Débat du mardi" program. Temsamani states that international negotiations have changed, requiring scientific evidence to defend positions, especially on climate, energy, and food security. Morocco has significant scientific output, with over 6,000 annual publications and strong international cooperation, but this potential is underutilized. Universities are key to this transformation, producing reliable data for international forums. However, coordination between researchers, diplomats, and public decision-makers is lacking. Scientific diplomacy is also linked to accessing international funding, with countries presenting solid, data-backed projects being better positioned. The paper identifies obstacles such as a lack of institutional coordination, unstructured funding, and limited recognition of scientists' roles in negotiations. Morocco should focus on strategic areas like water,
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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