Moroccan Engineer Ouijdane Qacami Wins France’s Top Student Innovation Prize

Marrakech – Moroccan civil engineer Ouijdane Qacami has received the prestigious Prix Pépite 2025, France’s leading award for young innovative startups. Campus France announced her victory for her breakthrough company Strucmedica, which focuses on concrete durability diagnostics.

Campus France cited Qacami as one of five international alumni among the 30 national laureates.

Qacami distinguished herself in the “materials in all their forms” category through her project for automated structural diagnostics of concrete buildings. Her startup was selected from 30 exceptional solutions recognized this year by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

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Strucmedica develops non-invasive diagnostic solutions that function like a “stethoscope for buildings.” The technology listens to structures to assess their health, detect pathologies, measure durability, and evaluate environmental impact. The startup targets construction sector clients, including asset managers, engineering offices, and public authorities.

The innovation addresses early detection of carbonation and other concrete pathologies. This helps building owners decide between repair, reinforcement, or replacement while reducing environmental footprint by extending structure lifespans instead of demolishing and rebuilding.

Strucmedica’s technology addresses critical challenges in the construction sector’s environmental transition. By enabling predictive analysis of structural health, the innovation supports low-carbon construction strategies through extended building lifespans.

The startup’s approach offers construction professionals rapid, non-destructive assessment tools for concrete infrastructure. This technology supports informed decision-making for infrastructure maintenance while promoting sustainable building practices.

Qacami currently serves as an R&D engineer at the Holcim Innovation Center, the global cement and materials group. After completing her initial studies in Morocco, she earned an engineering degree in civil engineering from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées alongside a Master’s in Construction Materials Sustainability.

Moroccan talent driving French innovation

She is now pursuing doctoral research at La Rochelle Université in collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Holcim Innovation Center, while simultaneously completing an executive leadership diploma at HEC Paris as part of her PhD trajectory.

Her doctoral research focuses on concrete durability using non-destructive evaluation methods. She has published six scientific papers on concrete durability and innovative measurement techniques. Her expertise includes finite element analysis, construction materials, concrete durability, civil engineering technology, and non-destructive testing.

Before her current role, Qacami gained engineering experience on major Moroccan infrastructure projects. She worked with Marchica Med on road and water supply works near Saïdia. She also contributed to stability studies for Nador West Med port’s main caisson dike with STFA Construction.

Qacami previously presented her work at RILEM Week and RILEM Conference on Smart Construction and Structures 2024. Her presentation focused on “Validation of a non-destructive instantaneous method for assessing carbonation of coated concrete.”

Philippe Baptiste, minister delegate for higher education and research, commended this year’s laureates during the award ceremony. “The laureates incarnate a youth that engages, questions, and invents desirable futures,” Baptiste stated.

He described the Pépite prizes as “true catalysts of innovation by enabling each student to move from idea to project, from project to company, in close connection with their territories and socio-economic actors.”

The Prix Pépite, established in 2014, recognizes students and recent graduates with innovative business creation projects. The program, supported by partners including L’Oréal for the 2025 ceremony, aims to strengthen entrepreneurial culture and innovation in higher education through awareness, training, and support actions.

Strucmedica previously won recognition at the GEF Start-up Weekend 2025 in Paris at Leonard:Paris. The company joined the French Tech Saint-Étienne Lyon ecosystem in April, where it was described as revolutionary deeptech for structural inspection.

Qacami first secured the regional Prix Pépite Nouvelle-Aquitaine selection in November at ENSMA Poitiers before advancing to national competition. Her regional victory represented Pépite Entrepreneuriat Campus Aquitaine at the national level.

Her recognition demonstrates Morocco’s contribution to France’s innovation ecosystem through high-level engineering talent. The award places Moroccan expertise at the forefront of sustainable construction technology development.