Mohammed VI Polytechnic University has taken a major step forward in advancing scientific innovation on the African continent with the official launch of UM6P CoreLabs, a cutting-edge research platform based in Benguerir. Designed as a key driver for Africa’s technological sovereignty, this multidisciplinary facility aims to reshape the continent’s position in the global research landscape.
The CoreLabs initiative addresses a longstanding challenge faced by African scientists: the heavy reliance on foreign laboratories, which often leads to delays, logistical complications, and limited control over the data they produce. By creating a fully integrated research environment – one that supports the entire scientific process from data collection to advanced analysis – UM6P is laying the groundwork for a new era of African-led innovation, aligned with international standards.
The facility is organized around three major research hubs. The first is focused on imaging and materials characterization, housing high-precision instruments such as the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and the Focused Ion Beam (FIB). These tools unlock new possibilities across sectors like energy, healthcare, and advanced materials, allowing researchers to explore matter at atomic levels with unparalleled accuracy.
The second hub is dedicated to biosciences, with a strong emphasis on biotechnology and genomics. Outfitted with high-throughput sequencing systems and 3D cellular imaging technologies, this unit enables deep investigation of complex biological systems. Just as important, it ensures sensitive data is managed locally, strengthening the region’s autonomy in critical fields like genetics and medical research.
The third pillar, analytical chemistry, offers powerful tools for detecting pollutants and emerging substances across various environments. This lab delivers precise, actionable data to support environmental protection, public health, and food safety—three pressing issues that require locally grounded, scientifically rigorous responses.
More than just a research facility, UM6P CoreLabs is envisioned as a nexus where academic research intersects with industrial innovation. Open to partnerships across the continent, the platform promotes cross-border collaboration and seeks to generate locally driven solutions to regional challenges. At the same time, it positions Africa as an active participant in global knowledge production, no longer on the sidelines but at the table where breakthroughs happen.
