Rabat: Participants at the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) annual meeting have expressed admiration for Morocco’s policies on water and green hydrogen, as outlined in the Rabat Declaration. The event, held from November 17-21, encouraged other African nations to emulate Morocco’s strategies to diversify their energy resources and industrial production.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the participants lauded the scientific initiatives driven by Morocco under the guidance of His Majesty the King, which have equipped the nation with the necessary tools for growth and progress. These initiatives aim to elevate Morocco to the ranks of countries where education, research, and innovation are critical to development.
The meeting, themed ‘Water and Hydrogen – Scientific Pathways for Sustainable Development in Africa,’ saw calls for African countries to revamp their science, technology, and innovation policies. The participants advocated for enhanced scientific collaboration between African nations and encouraged partnerships between young African researchers and their international counterparts, highlighting the critical role of science and knowledge in economic and social growth.
The Declaration underscored the importance of African Academies of Science in fostering partnerships between scientific institutions and industrial entities. It urged African countries to formulate a Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy to identify national priorities and allocate at least 1% of their GDP to Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (DERD).
Moreover, the Declaration recommended adopting legislation to manage science, technology, and innovation resources, ensuring a seamless transition from research to commercialization. It also endorsed NASAC’s 10-year strategic plan (2025-2035) to guide collective efforts in achieving sustainable development through STI.
Recognizing the private sector’s vital role in research commercialization, the Declaration called on African governments to incentivize private sector engagement. The participants also emphasized the need to enhance education systems by fostering scientific mobility to promote knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
The Declaration praised the efforts of the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology in advancing scientific research in Morocco, aligning with King Mohammed VI’s vision of serving the nation and contributing to global scientific progress.