• Morocco opened a continental training school for robotic surgery in Casablanca through the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health.
• The initiative followed Morocco’s ranking as Africa’s second-most prepared country for frontier technologies, according to UNCTAD.
• Global robotic surgery markets showed double-digit growth projections, reinforcing the sector’s strategic importance.

According to the “Frontier Technologies Readiness Index” published in April 2025 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Morocco ranked second in Africa for readiness to adopt frontier technologies. The assessment listed robotics among the 17 advanced technologies covered by the index.

Morocco strengthened its high-tech medical capacity with the launch of the Mohammed VI Interventional Simulation and Robotic Surgery School (M6-ISRSS). The Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health inaugurated the school in Casablanca on Friday, January 29, only months after the country introduced its first surgical robot.

Located on the Anfa City campus of Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, the M6-ISRSS provides training for surgeons, operating room nurses, and biomedical engineers. The school relies on advanced simulation technologies, augmented reality platforms, and next-generation robotic systems to allow practitioners to master technical procedures and robotic environments before performing live surgeries.

The school also supports the first university diploma in robotic surgery in Morocco and Africa. The program covers multiple specialties, including general surgery, urology, gynecology, and thoracic surgery, and combines simulation-based learning, hospital placements, and pedagogical innovation. The school aims to harmonize surgical practices, certify competencies, develop interdisciplinary expertise, and strengthen health facility capabilities.

A Rapidly Expanding Global Market

The initiative aligns with global trends that show rapid growth in robotic surgery, driven by wider adoption of minimally invasive techniques and rising demand for surgical precision. Precedence Research valued the global robotic surgery market at more than $10.7 billion in 2024 and projected growth to nearly $45.9 billion by 2034, implying a compound annual growth rate above 15% from 2025 to 2034.

The robotic surgical simulation segment, which forms a core component of M6-ISRSS training, represented a global market of $438.47 million in 2025, according to Marketgrowthreports. Analysts expected the segment to reach $500.3 million in 2026 and $1.69 billion by 2035, supported by the integration of virtual reality technologies and haptic feedback systems.

These trends reflect a structural shift in medical practice, as hospitals and specialized centers increasingly adopt robot-assisted systems. Robotic surgery improves procedural precision, reduces incision size and patient recovery time, and enhances outcomes for complex operations.

Morocco has already demonstrated tangible progress in this area. In 2024, the country successfully performed its first remote robotic surgery between Casablanca and Tangier. Moroccan physicians conducted the procedure exclusively, demonstrating the country’s ability to deploy advanced technologies and local expertise under complex operating conditions.

A Continental Skills Challenge

Across Africa, limited access to robotic surgery technologies has constrained skills development. The launch of M6-ISRSS addresses this gap by offering local training and capacity building. By training practitioners in both interventional simulation and robotic surgery, Morocco aims to meet domestic needs and position itself as a continental reference hub.

Over the longer term, M6-ISRSS plans to roll out its programs across Africa, relying on national and international partnerships to promote research, technological innovation, and the integration of new teaching approaches in health sciences.

Samira Njoya