UM6P Open Innovation Hub and Attijariwafa Bank Launch “The Tech Challenge”

An open innovation program connecting startups with real-world banking challenges in Morocco

The University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, through its Open Innovation Hub, has launched The Tech Challenge, a high-impact open innovation program developed in partnership with Attijariwafa Bank. Designed to bridge cutting-edge technology and real market needs, the initiative aims to accelerate innovation within Morocco’s banking sector by engaging startups and entrepreneurs with concrete industry.

At the core of The Tech Challenge is a clear ambition: to enable innovative ventures to co-create, test, and deploy solutions directly within a leading banking environment, while addressing some of the most critical technological challenges facing the financial industry today.

Three Strategic Challenges at the Heart of the Program

The program focuses on three priority areas that reflect both current industry needs and future digital transformation imperatives:

Document Fraud Detection and KYC
Solutions aimed at strengthening customer onboarding security through automated document analysis and advanced fraud detection technologies.
Data Quality and Consistency
Innovations designed to enhance data reliability, governance, and advanced analytics, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to support better decision-making.
Sovereign Dynamic Link Management
The development of a secure, locally hosted Moroccan solution for creating and managing dynamic links, reinforcing digital sovereignty and cybersecurity.

These challenges offer startups a unique opportunity to apply their technologies to real operational contexts, moving beyond proof of concept toward tangible business impact.

A Platform for Co-Creation and Market Validation

Selected startups will collaborate closely with Attijariwafa Bank’s experts, gaining access to industry knowledge, operational feedback, and real-world testing environments. This direct engagement enables participants to refine their solutions, validate their business models, and accelerate their path to market.

For UM6P, The Tech Challenge reflects its broader mission: to act as a catalyst for industry-driven innovation, connecting research, entrepreneurship, and corporate partners to generate practical, scalable solutions for strategic sectors.

Shaping the Future of Banking Innovation

By aligning entrepreneurial creativity with concrete banking challenges, The Tech Challenge contributes to shaping the future of financial services in Morocco, while strengthening the national innovation ecosystem. It also illustrates the value of open innovation models, where academia, startups, and industry collaborate to address complex technological and organizational challenges.