Morocco and ALTEN launch AI partnership to boost smart industry

A partnership agreement aimed at building a world-class ecosystem for artificial intelligence (AI) and industrial technologies was signed on Thursday in Salé between the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, and ALTEN Morocco. The agreement is intended to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and speed up its transition toward Industry 4.0.

It aligns with the ambitions of Morocco’s national Digital 2030 strategy and the AI Made in Morocco roadmap, while supporting the ongoing transformation of the country’s higher education, scientific research, and innovation system.

Three priorities lie at the heart of this public-private partnership: upgrading skills and supporting Moroccan talent in digital and AI-related professions; accelerating the industrial shift toward Industry 4.0, combined with advanced research and development (R&D); and enhancing Morocco’s appeal for technology-intensive investment.

The agreement structures cooperation around four pillars: R&D focused on the co-development of AI algorithms applied to predictive maintenance, assisted design, simulation, industrial optimization, and automated quality control. Sector-specific accelerators will be dedicated to developing advanced technological solutions for transport industries, particularly automotive, aerospace, and rail.

The partnership also provides for technology platforms designed to offer testing, prototyping, and experimentation environments accessible to local manufacturers. Finally, the training and skills component will focus on targeted programs in applied AI, advanced engineering, and digital transformation.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation will support skills development and the strengthening of training pathways. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, for its part, will help mobilize the industrial ecosystem.

The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform will support transformation and innovation initiatives. ALTEN Morocco, meanwhile, will contribute its technological expertise.