May 12, 2026 • UM6P Benguérir
Smart Green City Benguerir Africa Forum
Universities as catalysts of frugal, sovereign and social AI for smart and inclusive territories
A milestone edition driven by innovation
Smart Green City Benguerir Africa Forum
May 12, 2026 • UM6P Benguérir
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Four Pillars of Action
Universities as Living Labs for Smart Territories
Smart campuses can serve as real-scale laboratories to co-design and test solutions in energy efficiency, mobility, digital services, and participatory governance.
AI for Social and Territorial Development
AI tools can drive equitable development by addressing urban planning, healthcare, education, and environmental challenges.
Frugal Innovation & Open Source Platforms
Universities can promote open-source AI platforms, low-cost digital solutions, and shared infrastructures to ensure sustainability and technological sovereignty.
Capacity Building & Local Talent Empowerment
Universities can empower the next generation of smart city leaders through interdisciplinary education and startup incubation.
Three Strategic Debate Axes
SMART GREEN City Benguerir Showcase
How can frugal, open-source AI be deployed to ensure territorial sovereignty and address local needs while reducing dependence on energy-intensive infrastructures?
Technological sovereignty and frugal innovation
How can universities develop frugal and sovereign AI to reduce technological dependency and respond to local needs?
Social AI as drivers of human and territorial development
How can AI, education, research and innovation be mobilized to develop open platforms, local competencies, and strengthen territorial cohesion?
Key Speakers
Prof. Aawatif Hayar
Conference Chair
UM6P
Aziz Bouignane
Governor
Rehamna
Shakilla K. Umutoni
Ambassador of Rwanda to Morocco
Alvaro Ortega
Minister-Counsellor
Embassy of Spain in Morocco
Ali Chekroun
General Director
SADV
Mohamed Jouahri
General Director
Casablanca Events et Animation
Nawfal Saoud
General Manager Morocco & West Africa
Dell Technologies
Fahmi Jabri
Chief Commercial Officer
HoneyWell
Pierre-Manuel Patry
Head of EMEA
Akila
Tarik Zoubdi
Director
School of Architecture Planning & Design (SAP+D)
Artur Serra Hurtado
Techno-anthropologist
i2Cat Foundation, Spain
Said Hamdioui
Chair Professor
Delft University, Netherlands
Hossam El Shoukry
Regional SMART Cities Engineering Head
HoneyWell, USA
Marielle Sander
UNFPA Representative
Morocco
Mounia Lahlou
Director of Urban Strategy
SADV
Bertrand Poche
Deputy Director
AFD Morocco
Youssef Ibrak
Advisory Sales Engineer
Dell Technologies
Badr Ben Hichou
Director of Smart Cities
Harmony
Joe Appleton
Smart City Director
BizzTech, Spain
Adrian Penalver Fernandez
Sector Engineer
Software & Hardware, Spain
Chandra Challagonda
CEO
Fiware, Germany
Miguel Angel Veganzones
Head of AI
i2CAT, Spain
Michael Prange
Professor of Data Science
Kiel University, Germany
Wim De Kinderen
Programme Director European Affairs
ENOLL, Belgium
Emely Silva
Professor
Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Brazil
Marimuthu Krishnaveni
Professor
Avinashilingam University, India
Metin Akay
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
University of Houston, USA
Ismail Khalil
Professor
Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria
Tarik Zoubdi
Director
School of Architecture Planning & Design (SAP+D)
Event Agenda
OPENING CEREMONY
- •Welcome speech: Tarik Zoubdi – Director of School of Architecture Planning & Design (SAP+D)
- •Opening speeches:
- •Aziz Bouignane – Governor, Rehamna
- •Shakilla K. Umutoni – Ambassador of Rwanda to Morocco
- •Alvaro Ortega - Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain in Morocco
- •Ali Chekroun – General Director, SADV
- •Mohamed Jouahri – General Director, Casablanca Events et Animation
- •Nawfal Saoud – General Manager Morocco & West Africa, Dell Technologies
- •Fahmi Jabri – Chief Commercial Officer, HoneyWell
- •Pierre-Manuel Patry – Head of EMEA Akila
- •Aawatif Hayar – Conference Chair – UM6P
SIGNATURE OF AGREEMENTS
KEYNOTE SESSION 1 : Moderator: Aawatif Hayar, Conference Chair – UM6P
- •Artur Serra Hurtado – Techno-anthropologist, Spain
- •Said Hamdioui – Chair Professor, Delft University, Netherlands
- •Hossam El Shoukry - Regional SMART Cities Engineering Head – HoneyWell, USA
- •Demo – AI-powered Smart Campus @ UM6P
- •◦ Sara Bouriad – Lead of Multi-Techniques Services at DAG – UM6P
COFFEE BREAK
PANEL 1 – Smart Green City Benguerir Showcase
- •Moderator: Tarik Zoubdi – Director of SAP+D
- •Mounia Lahlou – Director of Urban Strategy, SADV
- •Bertrand Poche – Deputy Director, AFD Morocco
- •Youssef Ibrak – Advisory Sales Engineer, Dell Technologies
- •Badr Ben Hichou – Director of Smart Cities, Harmony
- •Salah Hasbi - Senior Engineer at Province Rehamna
PANEL 2 – Technological Sovereignty & Frugal Innovation
- •Moderator: Francisco Cano – Commercial Director, OdinS
- •Joe Appleton – Smart City Director, BizzTech, Spain
- •Fahmi Jabri – Commercial Officer, HoneyWell, USA
- •Adrian Penalver Fernandez – Sector Engineer, OdinS, Spain
- •Chandra Challagonda – CEO, Fiware, Germany
LUNCH
PANEL 3 – Social AI & Human Development
- •Moderator: Mohammed Khalil – Affiliate Professor, UM6P
- •Marielle Sander, UNFPA Representative in Morocco
- •Michael Prange – Professor of Data Science, Germany
- •Wim De Kinderen – Programme Director, ENOLL, Belgium
- •Miguel Angel Veganzones – Head of AI, i2CAT, Spain
- •Emely Silva – Professor, Brazil
- •Marimuthu Krishnaveni – Professor, India
KEYNOTE SESSION 2
- •Moderator: Hicham Bahi – Professor, UM6P
- •Metin Akay – Professor, University of Houston, USA
- •Parthasarathy Subashini – Professor, India
- •Ismail Khalil – Professor, Austria
CLOSING CEREMONY
Smart Green City
Benguerir Africa Forum
Un rassemblement historique réunissant innovateurs, décideurs et experts urbains pour façonner l'avenir des villes intelligentes africaines.
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Début le: 12 Mai 2026
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