Doha – Morocco is setting the stage for a major leap in urban development with the upcoming Smart City Morocco RoadShow & Expo 2025/2030, scheduled from May 21 to 23.
The event, co-organized by Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Casa Events & Animation, and the FIWARE Foundation, will journey through Casablanca, Rabat, and Benguerir.
The initiative aims to accelerate the digital transformation of Moroccan and African cities through an approach combining knowledge production, technological innovation, and sustainable partnerships.
The roadshow comes at a strategic time as Morocco prepares to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
“This initiative aligns with the major directives expressed in His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s speech on July 29, 2023, which called for strengthening the resilience and sustainability of territories,” states the organizing committee.
The undertaking also goes in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 regarding inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. It also aligns with the strategic framework of Morocco Digital 2030, which places efficient territorial transformation and human capital investment at the center of the country’s socio-economic development.
The first stop will be Casablanca on May 21-22, coinciding with the 9th edition of Casablanca Smart City. Under the theme “Smart NexGen Cities: Innovating for a sustainable and inclusive metropolis,” the event will address intelligent mobility, sports infrastructure management, and social inclusion in major cities.
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Two initiatives will foster collective intelligence and entrepreneurship as part of the Casablanca segment: a Smart City Hackathon bringing together developers, designers, and experts to design urban solutions, and a Startup Village showcasing local innovations to investors and sector leaders.
The roadshow will then move to Rabat on May 22-23 for the FIWARE Global Summit at UM6P Rabat campus. Notably, this marks the first time the summit takes place outside the European Union.
The 11th edition will gather international players, including Telefonica, AWS, NEC Corporation, and Mitsubishi Electronics, focusing on open-source standards, artificial intelligence in public governance, and urban cybersecurity.
“Discussions will primarily focus on international standards for open source and interoperability for smart cities,” the organizers noted regarding the Rabat segment.
The final stop in Benguerir at the UM6P campus will host the African Forum on Smart Cities, facilitating exchanges between African decision-makers, urban practitioners, and researchers.
Topics will center around infrastructure sustainability, inclusive territorial connectivity promoting employment, and public-private-citizen co-investment models.
Campus demonstrations will showcase innovative solutions deployed at Smart_Campus@UM6P based on artificial intelligence tools and digital twins concepts to optimize cybersecurity, mobility, energy efficiency, and water management.
Student projects from School 1337 will illustrate practical applications of AI and IoT addressing urban challenges.
The Smart City Morocco Roadshow is supported by UM6P, Benguerir Prefecture, Casablanca Events & Animation, FIWARE Foundation, Hassan II University of Casablanca, and partners, including APEBI, Technopark, startup incubators, technology companies, and higher education institutions.
