Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech will host the first edition of the Morocco Desert Innovation Challenge from October 26 to 31, 2026, bringing together students, researchers, young innovators, startups and project founders.
Organised through the university’s Innovation Hub, the challenge will focus on six areas relevant to the development of Morocco’s southern provinces: oceans, ports and the blue economy; water, renewable energy and the green transition; agriculture, food and biological resources; mobility, logistics and smart regions; arts, culture, tourism, sport and territorial experiences; and entrepreneurship, investment and new value chains.
The programme will open at the Faculty of Sciences Semlalia in Marrakech on October 26, followed by training and mentoring at the Innovation Hub on October 27. Teams will present their projects to a jury at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Marrakech on October 28. The closing ceremony and awards will take place in Laayoune on October 31.
The challenge will offer 10 awards, including three main prizes linked to the IDEA, LAB and SCALE tracks, six thematic prizes and a jury’s favourite project award.
According to the university, promising projects may also receive a year of support at its Innovation Hub, covering prototyping, entrepreneurship and intellectual property guidance, market access, testing and connections with regional business stakeholders.
Source: Alittihad
