Rabat: Partnership Agreement Signed for a Scholarship Program Supporting PhD Students in Energy Transition and Sustainable Development
A partnership agreement to support a scholarship program for PhD students specializing in energy transition and sustainable development was signed on Monday in Rabat, with implementation planned through 2028.
The agreement was signed by Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, and Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation. It aims to encourage outstanding master’s degree holders to pursue doctoral studies by granting three-year monthly scholarships to 50 PhD candidates conducting research on themes related to energy transition and sustainable development.
This initiative also reflects the government’s commitment to integrating national priorities—specifically energy transition and sustainable development—into scientific research and innovation policies, in line with the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNDD) 2035.
On this occasion, Minister Leila Benali stated that the agreement “represents an investment in Morocco’s future and its youth,” by allowing “around fifty students interested in renewable energy, energy transition, sustainable development, and climate change to benefit from doctoral scholarships.”
She added that this partnership falls within the framework of the Kingdom’s strategic orientations under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and complements several other agreements launched earlier this year. Emphasizing the need to invest in research and innovation in the fields of energy transition and sustainable development, Ms. Benali noted that Morocco requires specialized expertise capable of contributing to these strategic sectors to achieve the desired energy transformation.
For his part, Minister Azzedine El Midaoui praised the initiative of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, stressing that youth form the backbone and one of the key drivers of Morocco’s technological and scientific advancement. He highlighted the importance of training highly qualified professionals to support the country’s major projects and structural reforms, ensuring national technological autonomy closely tied to the goals of energy transition and sustainable development.
The scholarship program will run from 2026 to 2028, with a total budget of 6.3 million dirhams fully funded by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development. The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) will oversee the program’s implementation and monitor scholarship recipients.
This initiative will also provide doctoral students with training and guidance while encouraging them to propose innovative solutions to the challenges Morocco faces in areas such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, circular economy, and climate change mitigation.
Editorial team/le7tv
