The 11th FIWARE Global Summit, held on May 22-23, 2025, in Rabat Smart City, Morocco, was a vibrant celebration of ideas, innovation, and community. The event, co-organized by FIWARE Foundation and the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), featured inspiring presentations, hands-on training, and valuable networking opportunities.

As part of the Smart Cities Morocco Roadshow 2025, the event marked the first time the FIWARE Global Summit was held outside of Europe. It showcased the innovative potential of smart and sustainable regions beyond Europe, emphasizing the unique potential of FIWARE technology in shaping resilient, data-driven communities in Morocco, Africa, and beyond.

“Hosting the 11th FIWARE Global Summit in Rabat Smart City is a powerful statement of intent — to extend the reach of open innovation beyond Europe and into regions driving sustainable digital transformation. We were proud to bring our global community to Rabat, joining forces with Moroccan partners to support the ambitious Maroc Digital 2030 strategy. With UM6P and our global community, we are shaping the future of smart, secure, and inclusive territories through interoperable trusted technologies and open standards. This Summit was not just about technology; it’s about enabling real impact — empowering cities, regions, and citizens to thrive sustainably, collaboratively, and with resilience as we look toward milestones like the 2030 World Cup and beyond.”

Chandra Challagonda, CEO of FIWARE Foundation

Showcasing Smart Cities With Global Voices and Shared Vision

Over 60 high-level speakers from 24 countries and attendees from around the world gathered in Rabat Smart City to witness Morocco’s commitment to fostering a smarter and more sustainable future. This event highlighted Morocco as a key gateway connecting Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, showcasing its strong potential in areas such as smart cities, artificial intelligence, smart mobility, tourism, cybersecurity, and sustained academic collaboration in the field of digital innovation. The FIWARE Community enthusiastically showcased impactful implementations and use cases across various sectors, such as smart cities and territories, smart governance, smart energy, and smart water. They provided insights into how open-source innovation, along with AI and data-driven technologies, can facilitate urban transformation. Additionally, they emphasized the integration of green technologies, digital water solutions, and circular economy models to promote resource efficiency and environmental stewardship.

We extend our gratitude to the honored guests and official Moroccan government representatives who joined us at the event, bringing their fresh perspectives and ambitious ideas: Dr. Hicham El Habti (President, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University), Mr. Mohamed El Yacoubi (Wali, Region of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra), Mr. Mohamed Amine Souissi (Representative of the General Direction of Territorial Collectivities, Ministry of Interior of Morocco), Prof. Aawatif Hayar (Scientific Chair, Smart Cities Morocco Roadshow), Mr. Ryad Mezzour (Minister of Industry and Trade, Morocco), Dr. Younes Sekkouri (Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Morocco), Mrs. Amal Fellah Seghrouchni (Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Morocco), Mr. Khalid Baddou (Director of Institutional Affairs and Chief of Staff, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic), Mrs. Fatiha El Moudni (Mayor, City of Rabat, Morocco) and Mrs. Rahma Ouazzani Taibi (Deputy Mayor, City of Rabat).

Power Partnerships: Building a Bridge Between Academia and Industry

FIWARE Foundation was proud to sign an Associate Membership Agreement with the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a FIWARE iHub in Rabat. This milestone marks a significant step towards strengthening the collaboration between academia and industry in the advancement of context data management and open standards. The agreement sets the foundation for joint initiatives, knowledge exchange, and engagement opportunities, demonstrating a shared commitment to innovation.

Bringing Tomorrow’s Innovators to the FIWARE Hands-On Training 

The two-day FIWARE technical training at the summit offered an immersive, hands-on experience that equipped participants with the skills and knowledge needed to utilize global open standards in context data management. Thirteen participants engaged in expert-led workshops and practical sessions that demonstrated how these standards can improve interoperability, data integration, and system efficiency. Each participant was awarded an official training certificate upon completion. The training included practical examples of using context data across various domains, with a particular emphasis on robotics and machine learning. Additionally, it provided a thorough exploration of the NGSI-LD API, covering topics such as smart solution architectures and distributed security across data spaces.

“The FIWARE community is one of the most powerful engines of innovation in smart cities. Disruptive urban projects, constructive feedback, and a genuine curiosity for not-only-technical challenges were at the heart of the FIWARE Global Summit 2025. I’m honored and grateful to have been part of such an inspiring event!”

Sveva Lanese, Researcher, Consultant, Data Valley Consulting

“The FIWARE Global Summit in Morocco was incredibly impactful! Presenting on Digital Product Passports for circular economies and smart city data was a privilege, especially given Morocco’s 2030 World Cup vision. We’re excited to be launching an Open DPP Initiative with FIWARE! A huge thanks to Moroccan authorities and the entire FIWARE team for a pioneering conference. We also thoroughly enjoyed the Casablanca and Benguerir programs as part of the Smart Cities Morocco Roadshow 2025 – special thanks to Prof. Aawatif Hayar for a brilliant program and invitation!”

Suna Akbayır, CEO, ARTECH International

Media Coverage and Global Reach

The success of the FIWARE Global Summit was achieved with the support of our sponsors: BizzTech, Latitudo 40, Meaningfy, and SenLab. We also extend our gratitude to our international media partners—Bable Smart Cities, Club Globals, IoT Global Network, IoT Now, and Smart Cities World—whose collaboration helped elevate the event. We are also pleased to note that the summit garnered significant attention from leading Moroccan media outlets, including M2 TV, 1 HD TV, and major online platforms. This widespread coverage not only amplified the summit’s visibility but also effectively showcased the stories and insights shared during the event.

Celebrating the Great Success Together

The FIWARE team, speakers, and renowned guests gathered together at the Gala Dinner to celebrate the first edition of the FIWARE Global Summit in Morocco and discuss future collaboration opportunities. We thank all the attendees who joined the 11th FIWARE Global Summit in Morocco, and we look forward to welcoming you to our next Summit. Stay updated on the latest news from FIWARE by following us on LinkedIn and visiting our news section.