UNIVERSITE HASSAN II DE CASABLANCA

Their core work

Université Hassan II de Casablanca is a major Moroccan public university that has engaged in EU-funded research across surprisingly diverse domains — from biomedical diagnostics (lung cancer blood tests) to educational robotics for special needs children, and institutional gender equality transformation. Their H2020 involvement centers on staff exchange and capacity-building actions (MSCA-RISE, CSA), suggesting they serve as a knowledge bridge between European research networks and the North African academic ecosystem. Their contributions span biomedical research, cyber-physical systems applied to pedagogy, and social science policy implementation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

All three projects began in 2017, making it difficult to trace a clear temporal evolution. However, the early keyword signal (lung cancer) points to an initial entry through biomedical research, while the broader recent keywords — gender equality, cyber-physical systems, robotics, pedagogical rehabilitation — suggest the university rapidly diversified its EU engagement across social sciences and applied technology. This breadth likely reflects a deliberate institutional strategy to build international research capacity across multiple faculties rather than deepen a single specialization.

UH2C appears to be expanding its European research footprint through capacity-building schemes, likely positioning itself for deeper involvement in Horizon Europe as a North African partner.

How they like to work

UH2C has never coordinated an H2020 project — it joined twice as a third party and once as a direct participant, indicating an early-stage engagement pattern typical of non-EU institutions building their first European research ties. Despite only three projects, they connected with 36 unique partners across 23 countries, which reflects the large-consortium nature of MSCA-RISE actions rather than deep bilateral relationships. Working with them means engaging a partner still developing its EU project management experience but with broad geographic connections.

Through just three projects, UH2C has touched 36 partners across 23 countries — an unusually wide network that reflects the large international consortia typical of MSCA-RISE mobility actions. Their geographic bridge position between Europe and North Africa is their key network asset.

What sets them apart

As one of Morocco's largest universities based in Casablanca, UH2C offers consortium builders a credible North African partner with demonstrated ability to participate in EU framework programmes — valuable for projects requiring Mediterranean or African coverage. Their multi-faculty engagement (medicine, engineering, social sciences) means they can contribute across diverse topics from a single institutional entry point. For projects needing non-EU Associated Country partners to strengthen international dimensions, UH2C is an accessible and experienced choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CybSPEED
  Unusual combination of robotics and special education — applying humanoid robots and cyber-physical systems to help children with disabilities, bridging hard tech with social impact.
• TARGET
  The only project where UH2C received direct funding (EUR 125,466), focused on institutional gender equality transformation — notable as a Moroccan university actively implementing EU gender equality frameworks.