On 24–25 June 2026, the second EMERGE Africa-to-Africa Study Visit brought project partners to Morocco’s Eastern Region for two days of practical exchange around technology, industry and the clean energy transition.

Hosted by Mohammed First University (UMP), the visit created an opportunity for partners from different African pilot regions to move beyond modelling and policy discussions and see how technologies and industrial capabilities are being developed and applied in practice.

The programme connected representatives from organisations including ECREEE, AfriLabs and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique with Moroccan and European project partners, strengthening the exchange of knowledge between the regions involved in EMERGE.

From knowledge exchange to real-world applications

A central objective of the Africa-to-Africa Study Visits is to support learning between African regions facing different energy transition challenges and opportunities.

In Morocco, participants explored the relationship between industrial development, technological innovation and the transition towards cleaner and more resilient energy systems.

The first day included visits to APTIV Manufacturing, HIRSCHMANN Manufacturing and the Rapid Prototyping Center, providing participants with exposure to different industrial and technological environments in the Oujda region.

The exchange continued on 25 June with a group visit to the AEOLON manufacturing plant in Nador.

These visits offered a practical complement to EMERGE’s research activities, enabling participants to discuss implementation directly in an industrial setting and observe technologies relevant to the wider transformation of energy systems.

Strengthening connections across African pilot regions

EMERGE works through three African pilot regions: Morocco, Mozambique and the Niger River region, using stakeholder engagement alongside energy system modelling to develop solutions adapted to different social, economic and energy contexts.

By bringing researchers, energy experts and project partners together around concrete examples, the visit supported the exchange of lessons that can inform work beyond an individual pilot region.

The Oujda gathering also strengthened the wider community of practice being developed through EMERGE, connecting expertise from Africa and Europe around a shared objective: supporting evidence-based pathways towards sustainable and inclusive energy transitions.