UM6P launches GLOBAL HUBS – United States, linking talent, research, and entrepreneurship across continents
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic inaugurated UM6P GLOBAL HUBS – United States in New York on September 8, 2025. With offices in New York and Cambridge – Boston, the new hub aims to connect African research and entrepreneurial ecosystems with American academic, industrial, and innovation partners.
The initiative reflects UM6P’s mission to position Africa’s sustainable development ambitions within global networks of knowledge, capital, and technology. By deepening partnerships with U.S. universities and research centers, the hub will create pathways for joint research, student exchanges, and cross-border entrepreneurship.
A Hub for collaboration
Speaking at the inauguration, UM6P President Hicham El Habti emphasized that the hub represents a firm commitment to meaningful collaboration between Africa and global knowledge ecosystems.
The purpose behind this new hub is to respond directly to the urgent development challenges of Morocco and Africa by combining rigorous scientific research with practical and scalable solutions, enabling the Kingdom to build pathways toward technological sovereignty,” Said Hicham El Habti.
Further more, it was highlighted that the United States offers a dynamic example of how universities drive innovation. UM6P has developed ongoing collaborations with MIT, Arizona State University, Stanford University, and Columbia Business School. These partnerships span climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, green mining, artificial intelligence, and green hydrogen.
A two-way bridge
The hub is conceived as a platform for collaboration in both directions. For African entrepreneurs and start-ups, it offers access to venture capital, technology networks, and industrial expertise in North America. At the same time, it enables the adaptation and scaling of U.S.-based innovations in African contexts.
Mehdi El Khatib, Managing Director of UM6P GLOBAL HUBS – United States, noted:
“UM6P was built on the idea that Africa’s future will be shaped by talent, science, and innovation rooted in local realities but connected globally. This presence in the U.S. reflects our commitment to building these bridges so that African students, researchers, and entrepreneurs can both benefit from and contribute to the global knowledge economy.”
The hub will also host two immersion programs to strengthen training and exposure for business and innovation leaders in both Africa and the United States.
Engaging the African diaspora
A central feature of UM6P GLOBAL HUBS – United States is its role in mobilizing the African diaspora in North America. The hub provides a platform for researchers and entrepreneurs of African origin to co-develop projects with U.S. counterparts while maintaining connections to their home ecosystems.
The inauguration ceremony brought together Moroccan and American officials, leaders from academia and business, and members of the Moroccan community in the United States. Among the attendees were Youssef Amrani, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, and Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations.
Looking ahead
Since its founding in 2017, UM6P has advanced an Africa-centered model of education and research, focusing on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, water security, and industrial innovation. With 7,300 students from 40 nationalities—80% of whom receive scholarships—the university combines inclusion with academic excellence.
Its entrepreneurial ecosystem has supported more than 1,000 founders to date and forged over 200 global partnerships.
With hubs now established in Canada, France, and the United States, UM6P is reinforcing Morocco’s role as a gateway to Africa for research, innovation, and investment—embedding African talent and perspectives into global conversations on sustainable development.
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