Morocco unveils new cybersecurity innovation center to strengthen defenses

Tuesday 03 June 2025 - 09:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco unveils new cybersecurity innovation center to strengthen defenses

Morocco is set to establish a new Cybersecurity Innovation Center (CIC), marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s digital defenses. The center will be created through a partnership between the Mohammed V University in Rabat and the ministries of Higher Education and Innovation, National Defense, Economy and Finance, and Digital Transition.

The center, which will be structured as a public interest group, will offer training, conduct research, and support technological development and innovation in cybersecurity. It will also oversee the management of shared equipment used in these activities.

One of the center’s key aims is to boost Morocco’s cybersecurity capabilities by working closely with academic institutions, as well as public and private sector organizations—advancing knowledge and developing cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies.

The CIC will also establish partnerships with national and international research institutions, encourage entrepreneurship, and support cybersecurity-focused startups.

With its headquarters at the National School of Computer Science and Systems Analysis (ENSIAS), the center is being set up for an initial period of 40 years, with the option to extend its mandate through a vote by its general assembly.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns over digital threats to key public institutions. A recent cyberattack on Morocco’s National Social Security Fund (CNSS) exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s digital infrastructure and emphasized the urgent need to create stronger cybersecurity defenses and develop local expertise on the matter.