Moroccan and European experts and university researchers met on Thursday in Fez, as part of an international symposium to discuss technology transfer in the water sector in Morocco.
During this meeting, initiated by the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University of Fez (USMBA), as part of the activities of the European NORIA project "Strengthening Innovation Strategy and Improving the Technology Transfer in Water Technology Sector of Morocco", dedicated to strengthening the capacities of researchers in the field of technology transfer and innovation in the water sector, the participants emphasised the challenges of the water issue and the multiple constraints that make its "management difficult, including waste, overexploitation and pollution".
Speaking on this occasion, the president of the USMBA, Omar Sobhi, stressed that this meeting, intended to highlight a water technology transfer cluster, is the result of a project carried out by Moroccan and European researchers, noting that this initiative complements the research strategy launched by the USMBA in the field of water resources. He also pointed out that more than 15 research laboratories within the university of Fez are working on the theme of water, recalling, in this context, the recent creation of the water and environment hub to federate regional development actions in this area.
Mr Sobhi also highlighted the water management problems that Morocco is experiencing, noting that the research cluster will be installed at the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Fez.
For her part, the director of the Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency, Samira El Haouat, highlighted the Tempus-Noria cooperation project, funded by the European Union and aimed at strengthening innovation and technology transfer in the water sector in Morocco, adding that the theme of water is topical on a global scale.
She recalled on this occasion the structural reforms of water resource management initiated by Morocco, particularly the adoption in 2009 of a national strategy for the water sector, broken down into a national water plan. The Tempus-Noria project will allow, through the creation of the national exchange network, to strengthen cooperation links and develop research in the matter, continued Ms El Haouat.
The dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Fez, Mustapha Ijjaali, for his part, evoked the context of the creation of the technology transfer cluster in the water sector in Morocco, stressing that the objective is to create a national network in the matter, promote synergy between researchers and consolidate Moroccan participation in the European programme by 2020.
The president of the Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Omar Sahbi, indicated that this initiative constitutes a platform for exchange between different national and international actors to consolidate cooperation and partnership in the water sector.
This meeting, in which researchers, industrialists and academics from various backgrounds took part, tends to consolidate the university's scientific research development strategy through the establishment of research hubs in priority areas such as water and the environment.
