Signing of a partnership agreement with the ALTEN Group to develop AI capabilities and skills for the benefit of the industry of the future
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform signed in Rabat, a partnership agreement with ALTEN Maroc. This public-private partnership aims to structure an ecosystem of excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and industrial technologies to strengthen the Kingdom’s competitiveness and accelerate its transition towards Industry 4.0.
A partnership rooted in national priorities
This agreement forms part of the continuity of the High Royal Guidelines, which emphasise the importance of training young people in cutting-edge technologies, strengthening public-private partnerships, and opening universities up to their economic environment. It directly supports the ambitions of the National Strategy “Maroc Digital 2030”, positioning Morocco as a player in responsible technological innovation and sovereign technologies.
Three major challenges are therefore placed at the heart of this partnership: upskilling and supporting Moroccan talent in digital and AI professions; accelerating the industrial transition towards Industry 4.0 combined with advanced R&D; and strengthening the Kingdom’s attractiveness for high technology-intensive investment.
Four pillars for concrete action
The agreement structures cooperation around four complementary pillars, starting with Research & Development focused on the co-development of AI algorithms applied to predictive maintenance, computer-aided design, simulation, industrial optimisation, and automated quality control. The second pillar concerns the deployment of Sector Accelerators dedicated to the creation of advanced technological solutions for the transport industries, particularly automotive, aerospace, and rail, drawing on ALTEN Maroc’s expertise through its international clients. The partnership also provides for the establishment of Technology Platforms aimed at offering testing, prototyping, and experimentation environments, such as digital twins and digital simulation, accessible to local industrial stakeholders. Finally, the Training and Skills component will focus on the development of targeted programmes in applied AI, advanced engineering, and digital transformation, delivered in direct partnership with Moroccan universities and grandes écoles.
Reciprocal and operational commitments
Each stakeholder will contribute, within its area of responsibility, to the implementation of this strategic partnership. The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation will support skills development and the strengthening of training pathways aligned with the needs of future-oriented sectors. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will contribute to mobilising the national industrial ecosystem, while the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform will support initiatives related to digital transformation and innovation. For its part, ALTEN Maroc will bring its technological expertise and know-how to contribute to the development of innovative solutions and the strengthening of national capabilities.
On this occasion, Mr Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, stated:
“The integration of Artificial Intelligence at the heart of our industrial ecosystems constitutes a fundamental competitiveness lever that requires a highly specialised upgrading of our human capital. By making applied research and the development of industrial algorithms priorities, we are preparing the ground for a new generation of high technology-intensive investment. This partnership with the ALTEN Group reflects that synergy: it demonstrates Morocco’s ability to meet global requirements for value creation through innovation, R&D, and mastery of cutting-edge expertise in the Industry 4.0 sector.”
Mr Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, emphasised:
“This agreement demonstrates the relevance and maturity of public-private partnership as a structuring lever for skills development, the promotion of innovation, and the strengthening of the employability of Moroccan talent. It reflects a shared vision: placing human capital at the heart of development by strengthening the alignment between the supply of skills and the real needs of the national and international economic fabric, in line with the priorities of the sectoral strategy.”
For her part, Ms Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, stated: “The development of digital talent and Artificial Intelligence skills is a central pillar of the Kingdom’s digital transformation. This synergy with the ALTEN Group makes it possible to structure a national ecosystem capable of anticipating technological change, supporting the deployment of advanced data infrastructures, and positioning Morocco as a leading regional platform in technology professions.”
Mr Cyril Malargé, CEO of the ALTEN Group, added:
“Our ambition is to make ALTEN Maroc a hub of excellence in AI and industrial technologies, in perfect alignment with national priorities. This partnership enables us to combine our global expertise with local agility to accelerate the digital transition of the Kingdom’s key sectors.”
Through this strategic alliance, the signatory ministries reaffirm their commitment to supporting the upskilling of national talent in the field of artificial intelligence and to consolidating a high-performing national ecosystem, fully aligned with the requirements of the ongoing transformations.
About ALTEN Maroc
Established in Morocco since 2008 through ALTEN Delivery Center Maroc, the Group has four sites (Fez, Rabat, Casablanca and Tetouan), bringing together nearly 2,200 employees, around 80% of whom are engineers.
ALTEN Maroc operates in several of the Group’s strategic sectors, notably automotive, aeronautics, rail, digital, and information technologies. In this respect, the entity provides high value-added services covering engineering, product design, management of industrial activities, and software development..
ALTEN Maroc also supports its major international clients in their digital transformation, particularly in the retail and banking-insurance sectors, through recognised expertise in Software Factory, Data Analytics and cloud solutions.
Furthermore, since 2024 ALTEN Maroc has established a centre of excellence in artificial intelligence dedicated to industrial professions. This centre notably addresses challenges related to embedded systems, digital twins, and the optimisation of industrial processes.