Morocco is strengthening its position in biomedical research through a new scientific partnership between Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Canada’s Université Laval. The two institutions have signed agreements to expand academic cooperation and establish an international research laboratory dedicated to neuroscience, oncology and innovative therapeutic approaches.
The agreements were signed on October 27, 2026, at UM6P’s campus in Benguerir, during a visit by Université Laval Rector Sophie D’Amours. The partnership builds on scientific cooperation established between the two universities in 2018.
One agreement focuses on academic mobility, joint training programmes and collaborative research projects across several disciplines, including healthcare. The second provides for the creation of an International Associated Laboratory (LIA), bringing together Moroccan and Canadian researchers from different scientific fields.
The new laboratory will combine expertise in physics, optics, electrophysiology and medical biology. Its research will focus on understanding disease mechanisms and developing new diagnostic technologies and treatment strategies.
On the Moroccan side, researchers from UM6P’s College of Physics and Engineering and Faculty of Medical Sciences will participate. Their Canadian counterparts will come from Université Laval’s Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) and CERVO Research Centre.
Among the laboratory’s priorities will be advanced medical imaging, the electrical properties of cells and tissues, and gene therapy. These research areas could contribute to more accurate diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutic approaches.
Neuroscience and oncology will receive particular attention. By combining physical sciences with biomedical research, the partners aim to improve understanding of complex diseases and advance precision medicine. This approach seeks to tailor diagnostic and treatment methods to patients’ specific biological characteristics.
The initiative also forms part of the Canada–Africa Scientific Corridor, supported by UM6P Global Hubs Canada. The programme aims to strengthen research links between institutions across both continents, facilitate knowledge exchange and encourage joint scientific projects.
Through this partnership, UM6P is expanding its international research network while reinforcing Morocco’s role in scientific innovation and the development of new medical technologies.
