Science and technology in Morocco
Encyclopedia
country has a good supply of well trained high quality human resources and that some laboratories are
of very high quality. However, the greatest gap at that point of time lied in the link between research
and innovation. The educational qualifications of
Moroccan researchers have increased
significantly since the early 1990s. The University of Al-Karaouine is considered the oldest continuously operating academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
-granting university in the world, by the Guinness Book of Records.
National policy
The national system of scientific and technical research in MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
is guided by different elements, such as the pronouncements of the king, reports of special commissions, five-year plans
Economic history of Morocco
The economic history of Morocco has largely been charted by the national government through a series of five-year plans. Centralized planning has gradually given way to moderate privatization and neo-liberal economic reforms.-1960s:...
, and the creation of a special programme for the support of research. While spending on education has hitherto been relatively high (5% of GDP and 24% of government expenditures in recent years), change has been slow in coming. A royally designated "decade of education" was kicked off in Morocco in 1999 with the publishing of the National Charter for Education and Training, a road map to sector reform. As a result, literacy for men aged 15–24 has risen from 84% in 1990 to 87% in 2008, according the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, while the percentage of all students completing primary school rose from 82% to 87% over the same period.
The Moroccan government’s Five- Year Plan for 2000-2004 articulated the priority lines for research. The declared
objectives of this plan were to align S&T research with socio-economic development
Economy of Morocco
Morocco's economy is considered a relatively liberal economy governed by the law of supply and demand. Since 1993, the country has followed a policy of privatization of certain economic sectors which used to be in the hands of the government. Morocco has become a major player in the African...
priorities. Sectors declared as priority areas were: agriculture
Agriculture in Morocco
Agriculture in Morocco employs about 40% of the nations workforce. And thus, is the largest employer in the country. In the rainy sections of the northeast, barley, wheat, and other cereals can be raised without irrigation. On the Atlantic coast, where there are extensive plains, olives, citrus...
, fisheries
Fishing industry in Morocco
The fishing industry in Morocco is a leading foreign exchange earner, accounting for 56% of agricultural and 16% of total exports. For a long time the industry has been an economic pillar for the country. The Kingdom is considered the largest fish market in Africa, with an estimated total catch of...
, drinking water, geology, mining, energy
Energy policy of Morocco
A major weakness of the energy policy of Morocco is its shortage of domestic energy sources. Oil exploration has been disappointing, although the country possesses some natural gas reserves that have been exploited. Its hydroelectric potential is considerable and now being tapped...
, environment, information
Information technology in Morocco
The information technology sector in Morocco has been witnessing significant expansion. Morocco is the first country in North Africa to install a 3G network. The number of Internet subscribers in the country jumped 73% in 2006 over the year-ago period...
and telecommunications technologies, and transport
Transport in Morocco
-Government policy:With billions of dollars committed to improving the country’s infrastructure, Morocco aims to become a world player in terms of marine transport...
. This approach highlighted the need for effective institutional coordination, which enabled different parties to work together around common priority socioeconomic objectives.In 2002, 89% of the 542 researchers in a sample
comprising INRA, INRH, IAV Hassan II, ENFI, and ENA were
trained to the postgraduate level, and 34% held doctorate
degrees.
In 2009 Morocco has announced new support for scientific research including strengthening scientific infrastructure and giving universities more power. As part of the National Education Emergency Support Programme 2009-12, the Moroccan government has signed DH12.6bn (€1.1bn) in new agreements to improve the quality of its universities. This extra investment comes as the number of students in the science and engineering fields is expected to double by 2012, along with the number of those passing the baccalaureate exam after high school, additionally the country seeks to meet its UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The project will range from hiring additional lecturers and raising teaching credentials to expanding general infrastructure. The government has targeted accrediting 92% of its universities as research institutions by 2012, compared to 69% in 2008.
Technopolis Project
In 2005 the Moroccan king launched Technopolis RabatRabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, with the aim of creating 12,000-15,000 high-end jobs by 2016. The first phase was completed in 2006. The science park
Science park
A research park, science park, or science and technology park is an area with a collection of buildings dedicated to scientific research on a business footing. There are many approximate synonyms for "science park", including research park, technology park, technopolis and biomedical park...
holds separate engineering, high-tech, colleges and R&D
spaces. Several companies have started operating in the park, including Nemotek Technologie
Nemotek Technologie
Nemotek Technologie, is a high-tech manufacturing company, established in May 2008, based in Rabat Technopolis Park, Morocco.Nemotek Technologie, funded by Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion , manufactures customized wafer-level cameras for portable applications...
, EDS-HP
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
, Cleanroom, Alcatel
Alcatel
Alcatel Mobile Phones is a brand of mobile handsets. It was established in 2004 as a joint venture between Alcatel-Lucent of France and TCL Communication of China....
and many others. In 2009 Technopolis Oujda
Oujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
started construction, the first phase is to be completed in 2011. The technopolis includes four main components: “CleanTech” industrial and logistical park, a services center (off-shoring and services), a commercial platform (retail park and showrooms), and a training campus. The project is expected to create 20,000 job opportunities.
Only six African countries (Morocco, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
,
Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and South Africa
Science and technology in South Africa
-Astronomy:The first significant work in astronomy in South Africa was performed by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille between 1751 and 1753, culminating in the measurement of the arc of the southern meridian and a catalog of almost 10 000 southern stars, later published as Coelum Australe Stelliferum.The...
) have initiated programmes of technology parks as an
integral strategy of their sustainable development.
Research industry
The private sector is the least active player in research activity in Morocco. The REMINEX Corporation(Research on Mines and Exploitation) is the most prominent research performer in the private sector,and is a subsidiary of Omnium Nord Africain
Omnium nord Africain
The ONA Group was established in 1934.ONA is an industrial, financial and services group, strongly focused on positions of leadership and value creation in business activities contributing to the growth and sustainable development of Morocco, the Maghreb Region and the African Continent.ONA Group...
, the largest privately-owned mining group in Morocco. Nemotek Technologie
Nemotek Technologie
Nemotek Technologie, is a high-tech manufacturing company, established in May 2008, based in Rabat Technopolis Park, Morocco.Nemotek Technologie, funded by Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion , manufactures customized wafer-level cameras for portable applications...
is also a big private player. The most recent figures available on the number of research staff in Morocco are those provided by the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, Professional Training and Scientific Research in its 2002-2003 annual report. According to this report, Morocco had 17 390 research staff in 2002-2003. The majority (58%) were employed in the university sector. Total agricultural researcher numbers in
Morocco increased gradually
throughout the 1980s and 1990s, while
total agricultural R&D expenditures
fluctuated somewhat erratically.
Institutions
Research institutions include the Scientific Institute, founded in 1920 in RabatRabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, which does fundamental research in the natural sciences, and the Scientific Institute of Maritime Fishing, founded in 1947, in Casablanca, which studies oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
, marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
, and topics related to development of the fishing industry
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
. Nine universities and colleges offer degrees in basic and applied sciences. In 1987–97, science and engineering students accounted for 41% of college and university enrollments. Under the 2009 initiative by the Moroccan government, universities will be made financially independent from the government to make them more responsive to research needs and better able to forge links with the private sector. A total of 17 agreements were signed to develop Moroccan universities, as part of the 2009-2012 emergency program which aims at reforming the country's ailing educational system and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in the academic community.
The University of Al-Karaouine is a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Fes
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
. Founded in 859, as a madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
, the university is one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world
Muslim world
The term Muslim world has several meanings. In a religious sense, it refers to those who adhere to the teachings of Islam, referred to as Muslims. In a cultural sense, it refers to Islamic civilization, inclusive of non-Muslims living in that civilization...
. It is considered the oldest continuously operating academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
-granting university in the world.
International co-operation
The Morocco-US science and technology cooperation plan, signed in 2006 in RabatRabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, promotes the exchange of innovative scientific ideas, information and knowledge, skills and techniques and the training of technical experts. It also allows for joint scientific and technological projects, conferences and workshops.
Apart from the S&T agreement with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Morocco has
S&T agreements with its regional neighbour Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and countries related to
its historical heritage (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). Many Moroccan scientists received
training in France or are performing research in collaboration with French scientists.
In 2009 Morocco and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
and cyber security. Morocco also signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation with Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
In June 2009 a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
scientific mission, including six Moroccan experts, has started a visit to Morocco with the aim of integrating Moroccan researchers into the global climate change initiative, Space Weather
Space weather
Space weather is the concept of changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space or thespace from the Sun's atmosphere to the Earth's atmosphere. It is distinct from the concept ofweather within the Earth's planetary atmosphere...
.