Africa can lead AI-driven deep tech, says El Habti
Hicham El Habti, the President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, has said that Africa is poised to lead the global deep tech revolution.El Habti, in his opening remarks at the ongoing second edition of the DeepTech Summit, hosted at UM6P's campus in Benguerir, Morocco, emphasised Africa's growing relevance in deep technology, with artificial intelligence serving as a catalyst.
He spoke passionately on the continent's increasing leadership in redefining innovation, saying, "The Fourth Industrial Revolution cannot afford to leave the Global South behind. Africa is not just prepared to leap, but to lead."
The event, themed "Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming Deep Tech Innovation," drew over 7,000 attendees from 53 countries, including 980 companies, demonstrating global interest in Africa's technological ecosystem.
El Habti defined deep tech as a driving force of high-impact innovation that uses scientific advancements to address global concerns, particularly in sustainable agriculture, healthcare, green energy, and quantum computing.
"Whether we're talking about sustainable agriculture, next-generation health systems, green energy, or quantum computing, deep tech is the foundation of a more resilient, inclusive, and intelligent future," he told me.
He emphasised AI's significance not as a passing fad, but as a strategic facilitator driving this transition. "AI is a transformative general-purpose technology reshaping industries and public goods, but its full potential depends on ethical governance, equitable access, and fair global impact."
He emphasised Africa's demographic edge, noting that the continent's most valuable asset is its young, working people.
However, he emphasised that realising this potential necessitates a robust ecosystem capable of translating ambitions into realities.
El Habti stated that the summit's goal is to promote science-based entrepreneurship by connecting academic brilliance with industrial agility—transforming research into companies and scaling bold, new concepts.
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is a forward-thinking academic institution in Morocco that focusses on applied research, innovation, and sustainability.
With a strong emphasis on tackling African concerns, UM6P aspires to be a premier international university by encouraging cutting-edge research in science, technology, and social sciences while developing talent across the continent.
Over the last five years, UM6P has built a dynamic entrepreneurship and venturing environment that is adapted to the changing needs of founders, including market access, business support, and a strong community.
UM6P provides full end-to-end support across the startup lifecycle, promoting technology transfer by connecting researchers with innovation and easing lab-to-market transfers.
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