UIR Wins Gold, Bronze Medals at Middle East International Innovation Fair

Rabat – The International University of Rabat (UIR) has once again gained international recognition after winning major awards at the International Fair in the Middle East.

The event, held with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), brought together innovators from around the world, highlighting cutting-edge research and technological advancements.

The fair highlighted two health-related innovations developed at UIR. The first received a Gold Medal for an innovative endodontic instrument designed by Professor Sonia Ghoul and Professor Abdelwahed Barkaoui from the university’s CRESS and LERMA laboratories. 

The dental tool is designed to recover itself in case of fracture during a root canal procedure, a complication that can create serious challenges in dental practice. The innovation reduces risks for patients, lowers stress during procedures, and limits the need for invasive interventions by integrating a recovery mechanism directly into the instrument. 

It introduces a new approach in endodontics by addressing potential technical failure as part of the solution itself, according to a statement from UIR.

The second award, a Bronze Medal, was granted to iRespire, a smart asthma monitoring system developed by Nouhaila Fraihi and Professor Ouassim Karrakchou at UIR’s TIC Lab. 

Read also: As UIR Turns 15, the University Eyes More Innovation and International Reach

The system relies on Edge AI technology to provide continuous and personalized monitoring for asthma patients. It combines a smart inhaler, an electronic stethoscope, environmental sensors, and a connected watch to analyze real-time physiological and environmental data. 

Its goal is to predict asthma attacks before they occur and improve medical management through data-driven insights. The project represents a step toward more predictive and connected healthcare, UIR said.

In addition to these individual distinctions, UIR also received an institutional Gold Medal in recognition of its academic excellence and strong commitment to innovation and research development.

Founded in 2010, UIR has quickly positioned itself as one of Morocco’s leading higher education institutions. The university has strengthened its international reputation in recent years through global rankings and research achievements. 

UIR entered the top 1,000 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and has ranked first nationally in the Impact Rankings, which measure universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The university has also expanded its global academic partnerships, including a strategic collaboration with Mississippi State University in the United States to promote joint research and student exchange programs. 

Meanwhile, its flagship Rabat Business School has earned international recognition in global management rankings, ranking 20th worldwide in the 2025 Financial Times Masters in Management (MiM) ranking.

The UIR’s leadership has celebrated the university’s achievement during its 15th anniversary in November, including the high employability rate of 93% one year after graduation.