Officials from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have praised Morocco's significant progress in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, noting that the country's performance solidifies its status as a "regional leader" in innovation.
Officials from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have praised Morocco's significant progress in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, noting that the country's performance solidifies its status as a "regional leader" in innovation.
Key Highlights from the Index
During a press conference in Geneva, WIPO officials highlighted Morocco's jump of nine places to 57th globally among 139 economies. This was identified as one of the strongest performances in the Middle East and North Africa this year, driven by strategic efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem.
WIPO's Analysis
Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, a senior WIPO official, described Morocco as a country with "strong growth over the past decade." He pointed to improvements in the use of its intellectual property system and the rise of local startups. However, he also noted persistent challenges, including the need for more investment in:
- Human capital and infrastructure
- Market development
- Research and development (R&D)
Wunsch-Vincent emphasized that the country's low ratio of R&D to GDP, the number of researchers, and the difficulty startups face in securing major funding remain key areas for improvement.
Insights from WIPO's Director General
Daren Tang, WIPO's Director General, recalled his visit to Morocco, where he was impressed by the country's strong educational system, quality universities, and the creativity of its people. He noted that this creativity is particularly evident in industrial design, a field in which Morocco excels.
Tang acknowledged Morocco's entrepreneurial spirit but highlighted a major challenge: many young companies are forced to seek funding abroad. He stressed that a strong local venture capital ecosystem and committed national investors are crucial to helping these startups grow within Morocco.
Regarding scientific research, Tang pointed out that top-performing countries typically invest 2-3% of their GDP in R&D, while Morocco allocates about 0.5%. This underinvestment, he explained, limits the amount of marketable technologies the country can produce.
Outlook for the Future
When asked if Morocco could soon break into the top 50, Tang expressed confidence. While he declined to make a specific prediction, he stated, "history shows that countries that invest seriously in the innovation ecosystem naturally move up in the rankings," encouraging Morocco to continue its current trajectory.