Al Akhawayn University's presence at GITEX Africa this year was a whirlwind of innovation and connection. The focus of AUI students and faculty was on four key areas – research from the School of Science and Engineering (SSE), undergraduate capstone projects (SSE), co-curricular and extracurricular activities with tech giants like Amazon, IBM, and Google (SSE), and startups nurtured by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship (E+E) which all truly came alive at the event.
GITEX provided a springboard for our entire student body. It was a stage for them to showcase their budding startups, a platform for faculty to illuminate their ongoing research and capstone projects, and a launchpad for the university to forge potential partnerships with industry titans. This multifaceted participation solidified Al Akhawayn's position as a regional leader in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. The energy and ideas exchanged at GITEX Africa promise to fuel groundbreaking research, empower future generations of entrepreneurs, and solidify Al Akhawayn as a hub for tech talent in Africa.
Leading the charge was YAZ Agricultural Solutions, a young and ingenious startup incubated at Startup Olympus. Under the guidance of CTO Jad Tounsi El Azzoiani, YAZ's brilliance shone through, securing the coveted merit medal for the AI for Water Challenge, a prestigious initiative by AI in Africa and UNESCO. This remarkable achievement places YAZ amongst the top 100 UNESCO startups, a true testament to their groundbreaking work.