About this event
The first Moroccan Sahara Innovation Challenge concludes in Laâyoune on October 31, 2026 with its closing ceremony and awards. Organised by the Innovation City of Cadi Ayyad University together with the Faculty of Sciences Semlalia and the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Marrakech, the challenge runs from October 26 to 31 across Marrakech and Laâyoune.
The initiative brings together students, PhD candidates, researchers, young innovators, startups and project holders to develop practical solutions for the opportunities and challenges of Morocco’s southern provinces. Teams take part through three maturity tracks — IDEA, LAB and SCALE — ranging from early concepts to market-ready solutions.
Six themes structure the challenge: ocean, ports and the blue economy; water, renewable energy and the green transition; agriculture and bioresources; mobility and smart territories; entrepreneurship and new value chains; and “Art, Culture, Tourism, Sport & Territorial Experience”, which includes Hassani heritage, creative industries, ecotourism and water sports.
Following the opening, bootcamps, coaching sessions and final pitches held in Marrakech from October 26 to 28, the closing sequence moves to Laâyoune. The October 31 ceremony recognises the strongest IDEA, LAB and SCALE projects as well as thematic distinctions, including a Tourism, Culture, Sport & Territorial Experience award.
Selected projects may subsequently join a one-year maturation programme led by the Innovation City, covering intellectual property, prototyping, experimentation, incubation, funding strategy and market access.
The initiative brings together students, PhD candidates, researchers, young innovators, startups and project holders to develop practical solutions for the opportunities and challenges of Morocco’s southern provinces. Teams take part through three maturity tracks — IDEA, LAB and SCALE — ranging from early concepts to market-ready solutions.
Six themes structure the challenge: ocean, ports and the blue economy; water, renewable energy and the green transition; agriculture and bioresources; mobility and smart territories; entrepreneurship and new value chains; and “Art, Culture, Tourism, Sport & Territorial Experience”, which includes Hassani heritage, creative industries, ecotourism and water sports.
Following the opening, bootcamps, coaching sessions and final pitches held in Marrakech from October 26 to 28, the closing sequence moves to Laâyoune. The October 31 ceremony recognises the strongest IDEA, LAB and SCALE projects as well as thematic distinctions, including a Tourism, Culture, Sport & Territorial Experience award.
Selected projects may subsequently join a one-year maturation programme led by the Innovation City, covering intellectual property, prototyping, experimentation, incubation, funding strategy and market access.
