Rabat – Morocco and the United States have taken a major step forward in their scientific cooperation by amending and extending the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
The amendment was signed on Friday, July 28 by Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, and the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, the Moroccan state media reported.
The original Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement, initially signed on November 14, 2006, and put into effect on February 8, 2012, was set to expire after a period of ten years.
However, with the new protocol, this agreement will now be extended until July 26, 2033, solidifying a long-term partnership between the two nations in the realm of scientific and technological research.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Abdellatif Miraoui highlighted the positive impact of the agreement in Moroccan universities’ collaborations with their American counterparts. The renewed pact seeks to foster the exchange of experiences, facilitate student and researcher mobility, and promote the establishment of joint programs for scientific research.
Key areas of focus include technology and innovation related to climate change, renewable energies, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.
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Ambassador Puneet Talwar echoed Minister Miraoui’s sentiments and underlined the agreement’s potential to create new opportunities for Moroccan and American institutions and businesses.
By facilitating connections between the research communities of both countries, the agreement will also encourage the mobility of researchers in the fields of science and technology. Moreover it aims to address common challenges in the fields and protect intellectual property rights through joint efforts.
Ambassador Talwar reaffirmed the United States’ strong commitment to fully implementing the renewed agreement and stressed the pivotal role of science and technology as catalysts for economic growth and sustainable development in both Morocco and the United States.
