UIR and Cisco collaborate to launch AI and cybersecurity innovation hub

Friday 15 August 2025 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

UIR and Cisco collaborate to launch AI and cybersecurity innovation hub

Cisco and the International University of Rabat (UIR) have partnered to establish a Cisco EDGE Incubation Center, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity in Morocco. The collaboration is set to position UIR as a strategic hub for technological innovation and development in North Africa.

A partnership for digital transformation

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two entities is part of Cisco’s global Country Digital Acceleration program. This initiative seeks to promote digital transformation by connecting universities, startups, industry leaders, and public institutions to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies.

The EDGE Center, which stands for Experience, Design, Go-to-market, Earn, is designed to foster innovation within Morocco’s rapidly growing technology ecosystem. It will act as a bridge between academia, the private sector, and public institutions, creating a synergy that supports Morocco’s ambitions for digital modernization.

“This initiative lays the foundation for future digital growth across North Africa,” stated Francine Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco. Speaking at the signing ceremony, she emphasized Cisco's efforts to unleash the potential of AI and advanced technologies across Africa, with ten innovation centers already established on the continent.

Advancing Morocco’s digital agenda

The collaboration aligns with Morocco’s Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, which focuses on modernizing public services, boosting technological exports, and expanding the digital workforce. The strategy aims to double the country’s digital workforce to 240,000 jobs, while leveraging AI to enhance competitiveness in key sectors of the economy.

Key figures present at the ceremony included Meryem Medaghri Alaoui, General Director of Cisco Morocco, and Noureddine Mouaddib, President of UIR. The initiative will also feature programs such as the Cisco Networking Academy, designed to train future technology leaders and advance Morocco’s innovation ecosystem.

Broader efforts in AI and technological innovation

The UIR-Cisco partnership follows other recent tech initiatives in Morocco. One such agreement, signed in Rabat, involves ministerial departments, the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), and the French company Onepoint. This partnership aims to establish a data and AI excellence center in the Casablanca-Settat region, with plans to recruit 500 Moroccan engineers by 2029.

Francine Katsoudas highlighted Cisco’s commitment to training three million skilled professionals across Africa, supporting a secure and inclusive digital future for all.

The UIR-Cisco collaboration is expected to reinforce Morocco’s position as a leading hub for technological innovation and high-value offshoring in Africa, further enhancing its global competitiveness in AI, cybersecurity, and data management.