Rabat — Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is set to host its second edition of DeepTech Summit on May 8-9, 2025, focusing on artificial intelligence’s (AI) transformative impact on innovation across Africa.
The two-day event will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions at UM6P’s Benguerir campus.
This year’s summit is going to be held under the theme “Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming DeepTech Innovation.” The event will explore how AI is reshaping scientific, entrepreneurial, and industrial landscapes throughout Africa and beyond.
“This second edition captures a key moment, where AI is reshaping the landscape of DeepTech, from the lab to the value chain,” said Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship and Venturing at UM6P and CEO of the UM6P Ventures.
“It’s a call to connect technological breakthroughs with real-world challenges, with Africa as a living lab of innovation,” he added.
The summit builds on UM6P’s mission to come up with applied innovation specifically designed for African contexts. It will “serve as a platform for collective experimentation and dialogue between science, industry, and society,” a statement from UM6P said.
New to this year’s program is the DTS Prize, which will be competed for by a pool of groundbreaking startups using advanced technologies to tackle critical challenges in healthcare, renewable energy, and other sectors.
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The academic event will be a platform to provide startups several opportunities to connect with potential investors, including pitch sessions and specialized matchmaking activities such as the CVC Track, Pitch Me in the Dark, and Reverse Pitch. According to the organizers, these events aim to create meaningful interactions between innovators and financial, industrial, academic, and institutional partners.
Quantum computing emerges as a key focus area in this year’s edition. Although some technical and financial challenges exist, interest in this field is growing across Africa, particularly for its applications in precision medicine, cybersecurity, molecular modeling, and advanced AI.
“Quantum computing is gaining traction as a disruptive frontier, particularly promising for African ecosystems seeking to leapfrog traditional development stages,” the statement noted.
The DTS Prize finalists, selected from over 150 applications, will receive increased visibility, structured support, and funding opportunities. A special award will recognize an initiative led by an African ecosystem, reinforcing the summit’s goal of strengthening the continent’s role in global scientific and technological development.
The 2025 DeepTech Summit positions Africa at a strategic crossroads, calling attention to how Africa’s demographic momentum, emerging entrepreneurial hubs, and unique challenges can drive innovation in key sectors like agriculture, water, energy, healthcare, and education.
For more information or to register, the university calls on those interested to visit the website.
