On Wednesday March 6th in Rabat, a partnership agreement was signed between OCP Group, world leader in the phosphate and derivatives market, Mohammed VI Polyethnic University, and the German based Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS.

This agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2018 between OCP Group and Fraunhofer IMWS with the aim of strengthening their partnership in the development of industrial solutions, by intensifying the strategic cooperation between Fraunhofer IMWS and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University for the creation of the Fraunhofer Mazagan Lab, a world-class Research Center based at Mazagan Urban Pole (PUMA).

Fraunhofer IMWS will support Mazagan's research laboratory in various research projects on industrial ecosystems and will set up a dedicated team for the Fraunhofer Mazagan Lab. In addition, this partnership with Fraunhofer IMWS will enable the Mazagan laboratory to benefit from the expertise of all the Fraunhofer network laboratories.

The Fraunhofer Mazagan Lab will capitalize on Mohammed VI Polytechnic University’s research works and evolve them into applied research programs. Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is indeed positioned as a full-fledged player in the field of applied research oriented towards the development of industrial solutions and world-class partnerships.

“The ecosystem of Research and Innovation being developed by The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is strengthened by this first joint Center of Excellence. The Fraunhofer Mazagan lab aims to develop industrial solutions and innovative circular economy projects for Africa with the support of our partners in Germany” says Mr. Mostafa Terrab, Chairman & CEO of OCP Group.

“We look forward to supporting our partners in Morocco in these innovative activities. During our visit, we discussed various topics that can be tested and explored in the pilot plant. I expect the joint work to start quickly, sparking a long-term and successful cooperation in which we will gain many new insights into the potential of Chemistry 4.0 and, in particular, open up opportunities for plant engineering companies from Germany," says Prof. Ralf B Wehrspohn, Director of Fraunhofer IMWS.

With the Group's development ambitions and the continent’s industrial emancipation needs, the Fraunhofer-Mazagan lab will have to quickly get up to speed in order to seize the development opportunities of sustainable solutions for the industry in general and the fertilizers industry in particular.

The partners entrust the Green Energy Park (GEP) and Fraunhofer IMWS with the task of setting up the first pilot for the production of hydrogen and green ammonia in Africa. This will be the first project of the Fraunhofer-Mazagan Lab.