Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has inaugurated StartGate Rabat, a new hub dedicated to startups and venture building, expanding on the activities of its successful StartGate Benguerir campus launched five years ago.
The new Rabat hub is founded on the synergy between research, education, and entrepreneurship. It aims to position UM6P as a key African reference for advanced and high-impact technological solutions across four strategic areas: Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and health.
A Strategic Expansion
This expansion brings the university’s innovation engine closer to the country’s decision-making centers, fostering stronger connections between investors, public institutions, entrepreneurs, and established companies. The Rabat hub will serve as a vital link in the national network connecting UM6P’s innovation poles in Benguerir, Rabat, and Laayoune with its global hubs in France, Canada, and the United States.
In a statement to MAP, Yassine Laghzioui, CEO of UM6P Ventures, described the launch as more than just a new location. “This is a natural and strategic expansion for the university with a clear objective: to support entrepreneurs and startups wishing to accelerate their growth, mobilize funds, and move towards exportation,” he said.
Building on a Successful Model
Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P, highlighted the significant impact of the StartGate initiative since its inception in 2020. The innovation campus has supported over 1,600 startups, with 35% led by women and over 30% by members of the Moroccan diaspora.
“StartGate Rabat, with its integrated model and continental dimension, is a concrete step towards our ambition of creating an ecosystem where innovation sustainably transforms key sectors in Morocco and Africa, while producing exportable and globally inspiring solutions,” El Habti stated. He added that the initiative has mobilized a network of over 300 experts and mentors, enabling Moroccan and African entrepreneurs to raise nearly $72 million to fuel their development.
Bridging Research and Entrepreneurship
Located within Rabat’s Technopolis, StartGate Rabat will serve as a dynamic and integrated center, bringing together students, researchers, and economic players to collaborate on key areas such as business, economics, and social governance.
By leveraging an integrated model that covers incubation, experimentation, and prototyping all the way to market access, StartGate facilitates the transition from scientific research to industrial application. This approach contributes to the emergence of deep-tech solutions in sectors critical to the continent, including Ag-Tech, Green Energy, Health-Tech, Retail-Tech, AI, and FinTech.
About StartGate
StartGate is the startup and venture building campus of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). With locations in Benguerir and Rabat, it provides an integrated ecosystem for entrepreneurs, supporting them from ideation and incubation to acceleration and market access. StartGate focuses on fostering innovation in strategic sectors for Morocco and Africa, including AI, health, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy.
Source: MAP Express
