Morocco brings together Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Safran in an industrial alliance to develop aviation and defense technology
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) announced the official launch of the agreement to establish the "African Manufacturing Excellence Center" (ACME), a move aimed at strengthening Morocco's capabilities in advanced industries. This initiative is a consortium of Moroccan government institutions and leading international companies specializing in the aerospace and defense sectors.
The agreement was announced on the sidelines of the Marrakech Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2026, with the participation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the National Defense Administration, the OCP Group (Office Chérifien des Phosphates), and U6P, along with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Safran Nascelles, and the French Center for Mechanical Engineering (CETIM) through its Moroccan branch.
This consortium aims to establish a shared platform for industrial research and development, combining the technological expertise of international companies with Moroccan scientific and industrial capabilities. This will enable the development of advanced manufacturing technologies and enhance Morocco's integration into global production chains, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors.
Under the agreement, the campus of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Nouaceur will host a joint center that will allow members of the alliance to develop, test and apply manufacturing technologies on an industrial scale, with shared equipment and facilities and coordinated research programs.
The center will focus on a range of technological fields of increasing importance in modern industries, including advanced materials, additive manufacturing (also known as industrial 3D printing), automation, composite material processing, industrial automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, as well as industrial measurement and non-destructive testing techniques used to monitor the quality of industrial components without damaging them.
The participation of companies the size of Boeing, Airbus, and Lockheed Martin is particularly significant given their position in the global aerospace and defense industries. Safran Nassells contributes its expertise in manufacturing aircraft engine pods, while CETIM brings its expertise in mechanical engineering, applied research, and industrial testing.
The project also includes the creation of training programs through the ACME Academy, aimed at developing Moroccan skills and competencies, facilitating the transfer of research results from laboratories to industrial applications, supporting supply chains, and strengthening the capabilities of companies operating in advanced industrial sectors.
According to the press release, the center will adopt a joint venture approach, whereby alliance members will collectively implement research and development programs or launch projects that address specific industrial needs.
This approach will allow for the development of technological solutions and the testing of their effectiveness before their adoption in production processes, leveraging the research resources and technical expertise offered by the various partners.
These projects are expected to contribute to the generation of new knowledge and the development of intellectual property assets, thereby creating added value for participating companies and institutions and supporting the development of Morocco's industrial and technological ecosystem.
The agreement also regulates aspects related to the center's governance, the financing of its activities, and the management of intellectual property rights resulting from joint research and development projects, given the diverse nature of the institutions involved in the alliance, which include government bodies, academic institutions, and international industrial companies.
It also stipulates the adoption of a multi-tiered membership system, allowing for the future inclusion of other institutions and companies, provided they adhere to the governance rules defined in the agreement.
Those behind the project anticipate that the African Manufacturing Excellence Center will serve as a platform for developing industrial capabilities in Morocco, before extending its expertise and technologies to other African countries, thereby strengthening the Kingdom's position as a regional hub for advanced industries.
The announcement of this alliance comes in the context of Morocco’s move towards expanding its industrial activities related to aviation and defense, and moving from manufacturing and assembling components to developing greater capabilities in research, engineering and advanced industrial technologies.
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