Innovation Ecosystems 2025

INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 7 City of Agadir, Morocco – heritage-informed innovation for blue-green resilience Overview Agadir, Morocco’s leading blue-green hub, demonstrates how historical governance principles can inform modern innovation ecosystems. The city’s name, meaning “fortified community granary” in Amazigh, reflects centuries- old traditions of shared stewardship and collective risk management that now shape its approach to innovation. Multiple clusters support ocean economy and agritech As the anchor of Morocco’s southern industrial corridor, Agadir leverages its coastal position to integrate an ocean economy with agricultural innovation. The ecosystem spans multiple specialized clusters: –Technopark and Innovation City for start-ups. –Regional centre of the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) for fisheries science. –Haliopole for seafood processing. –Agrotech for agricultural innovation, supported by Ibn Zohr University’s deep talent pipeline.Innovation saves energy and water while boosting taxes The city’s centralized digital platform integrates real-time data across mobility, lighting, water and waste systems, enabling evidence-based decision-making. This systematic approach yields measurable impacts: –50% reduction in street-lighting energy use while doubling coverage. –60% greywater reuse saving 12 million cubic metres annually. –70% growth in local tax revenues reinvested in services and SME support. Blue-green strategy embraces sustainability and growth Agadir’s blue-green strategy54 addresses water scarcity through large-scale desalination for households and agriculture, while treated greywater irrigates urban green corridors. This integration of traditional governance wisdom with modern technology creates a replicable model for coastal cities facing climate challenges while pursuing innovation-led growth. Source: City of Agadir.55 Image credit: City of Agadir. Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 32