Casablanca — Several Moroccan inventors earned top honors at the Innovation Week Awards 2026, an international online competition that introduced an AI-assisted judging system this year.
Organized by OFEED, a Moroccan platform dedicated to promoting innovation and supporting inventors, the latest edition marked both the platform’s 10th anniversary and the eighth edition of the Innovation Week Awards. The event drew attention not only for the projects recognized but also for its new evaluation process, which relied on AI-assisted live assessments.
Among the biggest winners was Hassan Ammor, a professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, who received the Academic Grand Prize for a project designed to combat cheating during exams. The solution combines artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and embedded systems technologies to detect unauthorized electronic devices in exam halls.
Morocco’s success extended beyond the grand prize. Ammor, alongside researchers Jalal Baayer and Zakaria Er-Reguig from the Mohammadia School of Engineers, was also ranked among the competition’s Top 20 Gold Medal Winners, a group made up of the highest-rated projects from around the world.
The Moroccan researchers were recognized for work spanning several sectors, from healthcare to telecommunications.
One of the awarded projects focuses on the early detection of breast cancer through a smart scanner that uses microwave imaging and radiofrequency technologies. The portable device aims to make screening more accessible and affordable, particularly in regions where access to conventional diagnostic tools remains limited. Researchers behind the project said early detection plays a crucial role in improving survival rates and that the technology could eventually be deployed on a large scale.
Another recognized innovation is a microstrip antenna developed for GSM communication systems. The technology seeks to reduce the thermal effects and electromagnetic wave interactions that users experience when using mobile phones. The project falls within the field of telecommunications and electromagnetic compatibility research.
This year’s competition stood out for testing a new AI-assisted jury model. Participants defended their projects through interactive video presentations, while AI tools helped analyze submissions according to competition criteria. Organizers said the system was designed to improve transparency and make comparisons between projects more consistent.
The strong showing by Moroccan researchers reflects growing activity in applied scientific research, with several projects focused on solving practical challenges while creating opportunities for technology transfer and industrial development.
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