This competition, which is part of the third edition of the INNOV INVEST Fund (FII), a strategic initiative led by TAMWILCOM, brought together project leaders selected from the UPF, the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA) of Fez, the Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, the Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane, as well as the Higher School of Engineering in Applied Sciences (ESISA).
At the end of this final, the jury awarded four innovative projects representing four universities. These are "Yalah sccot" representing the UPF, "Claro" from Al Akhawayn University, "Flexibot" from the UMI, and "Tawfir" from the USMBA of Fez. The jury also distinguished three favourites among the competing projects, two of which were from the UPF.
Speaking on this occasion, the Vice-President of the UPF, Mohammed Ouazzani Jamil, indicated that this event demonstrates the importance of technological entrepreneurship as a driver of economic and societal progress, adding that this final brings together the best projects from four universities in the Fez-Meknes region, "reflecting the dynamism, creativity, and determination of our young talents".
At the UPF, he said, "we have fully integrated this dynamic by fostering the emergence of innovative projects through tutored projects and technical project modules, specifically designed to allow our students to explore DeepTech technologies in depth", adding that "these pedagogical mechanisms are not limited to theory, but also aim to develop concrete and applicable solutions, paving the way for viable and impactful projects".
He expressed the UPF's desire to ensure "continuity in the value chain of these projects, from their conceptualisation to their acceleration and market entry", welcoming the "strategic" partnerships established in this framework with specialised structures, such as INCUBOOSTER, which helps guarantee comprehensive support, integrating technological development, strategic support, and access to the networks necessary to promote the penetration of these innovations into the markets.
Mr. Ouazzani Jamil emphasised the major role played by the university's incubation platform, KUB789, in this process, "by offering an environment conducive to the maturation and realisation of innovative ideas", adding that "in collaboration with INCUBOOSTER and our partners, we are creating the conditions to transform these DeepTech initiatives into solutions capable of bringing real added value to our society and our economy".
In a statement to the MAP, the head of technical support at KUB789, Zineb Bounoua, described the final of the Deeptech start-up competition as a "great opportunity" for students to present their innovative ideas, adding that this regional event, which brings together 5 university institutions, aims to promote entrepreneurship, encourage exchanges, and open doors for future collaborations.
"I am delighted to see how these young entrepreneurs are transforming their ideas into concrete solutions", she said.
For his part, the director of INCUBOOSTER, Atif El Youssefi, stressed to the MAP that this competition is part of the third edition of the INNOV INVEST Fund, an initiative led by TAMWILCOM, adding that the DeepTech Startup Challenge is a competition that "we started at Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane, while the second day took place at Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, and we are now at the UPF for the grand final".
He also noted that this final "allows for the selection of project leaders who will be supported in the ideation phase (...) before choosing the best ones and supporting them for the launch of their startups".
