A new cooperation agreement brings together UMONS and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Morocco

More than simply a starting point, this new agreement represents the culmination of a scientific partnership that is already firmly established between UMONS and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (UAE), particularly through several joint research projects conducted in recent years.

“This agreement strengthens an already well-established, rich and fruitful partnership between our two institutions. Beyond its academic dimension, this partnership illustrates the essential role universities play in scientific diplomacy and in bringing peoples closer together. By fostering human and intellectual exchanges, it contributes to building lasting bridges between Morocco and Belgium,” said Professor Bouchta El Moumni, President of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University.

In practical terms, the newly signed agreement now establishes an institutional framework designed to support the development of new academic and scientific collaborations, strengthen exchanges among researchers, lecturers, doctoral candidates and students, and encourage the emergence of innovative projects addressing major societal challenges.

“The signing of this framework agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening ties between UMONS and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, said Professor Philippe Dubois, Rector of UMONS. Beyond the mobility of researchers and professors, it paves the way for high-impact scientific collaborations, such as our joint chemistry project focused on recovering value from aquaculture waste, with the prospect of creating an innovative spin-off together,” he added.

A well-established partnership

During the meeting, the two universities presented their respective institutions and development strategies in the fields of research, education and international engagement. It also provided an opportunity for UMONS international relations representatives to discuss the mechanisms put in place to support international partnerships and facilitate the academic mobility of students, doctoral candidates and academic researchers.

The technology transfer teams from both universities also exchanged views on their respective practices in order to identify new opportunities for research valorisation and innovation. Professor Hinde Cherkaoui, Vice-President for Research at UAE, praised the quality of the discussions and the spirit of openness that characterised the entire mission: “We fully share the desire to consolidate this partnership and extend it to new areas of education, research, innovation and knowledge transfer, for the benefit of both our institutions and our university communities.”

The discussions between the teams responsible for research valorisation also provided an opportunity to compare the two institutions’ experience in technology transfer, innovation support and impact creation.

According to Dr Séverine Coppée, Technology Transfer Officer at UMONS’s Research and Innovation Administration, responsible for materials-related matters: “Our discussions with our counterparts at UAE’s Technology Transfer Office reminded us that technology transfer is first and foremost a human endeavour based on sharing experiences, exchanging best practices and pursuing a common ambition: giving the results of university research the best possible opportunity to benefit society. Despite differences in the size, context or organisation of our institutions, we share the same objectives of research valorisation and the creation of economic and societal impact.”

AQUA’MAR: a partnership taking shape on the ground

The day after the agreement was signed, the UMONS delegation travelled to Larache to visit the Multidisciplinary Faculty of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, a partner in the AQUA’MAR project, which is funded by the Academy for Research and Higher Education (ARES).

The visit provided an opportunity to discover the construction site of the future AQUA’TECH aquaculture platform, a scientific infrastructure set to become a genuine demonstrator supporting research, education, innovation and the development of sustainable aquaculture solutions.

This project provides a tangible illustration of the outcomes of a scientific partnership that has been under way for several years and reflects the shared commitment of both universities to developing research infrastructure for the benefit of their academic communities and local regions.

“The visit to the AQUA’TECH platform by the Rector of UMONS and the AQUA’MAR project team perfectly illustrates the momentum driving our partnership. Supported by ARES, this infrastructure is intended to become a space for experimentation, education and innovation, open to researchers, students and socio-economic stakeholders. It reflects our shared determination to transform scientific collaboration into tangible achievements supporting the sustainable development of our regions,” emphasised Professor Hicham Chairi, Vice-Dean for Research at the Multidisciplinary Faculty of Larache.

A shared ambition serving research and society

Beyond the projects already under way, this framework agreement opens up new prospects for cooperation across a wide range of scientific fields and will help intensify exchanges between the two institutions. It forms part of a shared vision of a university that is open to its region, committed to producing knowledge, creating value from it and putting it at the service of society.

“Projects supported by ARES demonstrate that international scientific cooperation goes far beyond research funding. They create genuine bridges between universities, researchers and regions, helping to build lasting trust and develop projects with major scientific, economic and societal impact, explained Dr Samira Benali, Scientific Coordinator of the AQUA’MAR project within the Polymer and Composite Materials Department at UMONS. The framework agreement signed today, with the support of His Excellency the Ambassador of Belgium to Morocco, now provides a strong institutional framework for expanding this momentum and jointly showcasing the scientific excellence of our two universities for the benefit of as many people as possible,” she added.

By giving a new institutional dimension to a partnership that has already produced many achievements, UMONS and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University reaffirm their commitment to building a lasting partnership founded on scientific excellence, innovation and knowledge sharing.