The Faculty of Sciences of the Moroccan capital hosted the Summer University on Digital in the Service of Society in Africa. Organized jointly by the HRH Princess Lalla Asmae Foundation, the Lions Clubs – Morocco District and the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat, this initiative brought together Moroccan and African experts, professionals, researchers and students passionate about digital technology to discuss the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation on the African continent. The inaugural ceremony saw the participation of eminent personalities, including Ms. the Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion and Family, Ms. the Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Mr. Coordinator of the Lalla Asmae Foundation, Ms. Governor of the Lions Clubs District Morocco, Mr. President of Mohammed V University, Mr. Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Mr. The Head of the Computer Science Department of the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat. The first panel, entitled “Digital Transformation and Society”, addressed the societal impacts of digital transformation through enriching discussions. Mr. Majid LAHLOU, Director of Information Systems at the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, highlighted the importance of digital innovation to improve public services and governance. Mr. Mohamed JEBBAR, CEO of BC Skills Group, insisted on the need to train a new generation of talents to meet digital challenges as well as meet the needs of the job market. In the second panel, the emphasis was placed on “Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Cybersecurity”. Mr. Ahmed Khalid Benomar, Advisor to the Minister of Economy and Finance, discussed the opportunities offered by the Data Lab for rapid valorization of data as well as AI to improve the effectiveness of public policies and strengthen transparency. Mr. Mahir Chekkoury, Coordinator of the Acceleration Laboratory – UNDP Morocco, highlighted the innovative projects underway to use AI and Big Data in sustainable development. Dr. Hachimi, Director PVKK, discussed the implications of technology for protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data. The third panel was devoted to “Bioinformatics and Health”. Mr. Anas Doukkali, Former Minister of Health and President of the e-Health Innovation Center, presented the advances in bioinformatics and its impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Ms. Laila Sbabou, Professor of Bioinformatics at Mohammed V University, explained how the integration of biology and computer science can revolutionize medical research. Mr. Hamid Badr, Consultant and Startupper in Health IT, shared his experience on developing innovative solutions to improve access to healthcare in Africa. The debates of the fourth Panel focused on “The Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities and Agriculture”. Mr. Amrani, State Engineer and MHPV CIO, presented the latest innovations in smart cities, highlighting connected urban management projects. Mr. Nawfal Lotfi, Director of Agrolora, discussed the applications of IoT in agriculture, particularly to optimize yields and reduce environmental impact. Mr. Khalid Hanafi, Director of Agroam, presented examples of concrete applications highlighting the benefits for farmers in terms of efficiency and sustainability. The afternoon sessions included concrete demonstrations such as a guided tour of the Ministry’s “Tier III” classified Datacenter. of Economy and Finance which was organized for the benefit of participants, in addition to practical workshops, highlighting innovative smart greenhouse projects, the use of health databases, as well as concrete applications of AI & Robotics and electronic payment security. The afternoon sessions were devoted to concrete demonstrations, including a guided tour organized for the benefit of participants at the Datacenter classified “Tier III” of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In addition to practical workshops which also highlighted innovative projects such as the smart greenhouse, the use of health databases, as well as practical implementations of AI, robotics and electronic payment security. The Summer University on Digital in the Service of Society in Africa concluded on a positive note, praised by the participants for the richness of the exchanges and collaborations established. The event highlighted the potential of digital for sustainable and inclusive development in Africa, opening promising prospects for the future.
