Sustainability Research Hubs
UM6P Established a New Global Hub in New York to Accelerate Research
Colin Smith — September 11, 2025
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) inaugurated its second US Global Hub in New York on September 8, 2025, extending its presence beyond the original Cambridge, Massachusetts location. The New York hub is intended to connect African talent and research ecosystems with academic, entrepreneurial and industrial partners across the United States. Its mandate includes strengthening existing collaborations and initiating new joint research projects and academic exchanges with American universities and institutions.
UM6P President Hicham El Habti stated that the hub will serve as a two-way bridge, providing African startups and entrepreneurs access to venture capital, technology networks and industrial expertise in North America while facilitating adaptation of US innovations for African markets. The university highlighted partnerships with institutions such as MIT, Arizona State University, Stanford University and Columbia Business School. Director General Mehdi El Khatib emphasized the hub’s role in training and connecting African researchers and startups to the US innovation ecosystem, and Morocco’s ambassador to the US, Youssef Amrani, described the initiative as an investment in human capital and a diversified innovation ecosystem.
