COVID-19: Morocco to invest $1 million in scientific research
Morocco will invest $1 million in scientific research in areas related to the management of pandemic crises, with focus in the short term on the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced the adoption of a support program for multidisciplinary scientific research in areas related to pandemic crises, for which a $1 billion investment has been earmarked.
In the short term, the program will focus on research projects related to the Covid-19 pandemic, provide answers on how to analyze the spread of the epidemic, and to come up with resolutions and recommendations for the transition from the confinement period to life post-lockdown.
In the medium and long term, this program intends to mobilize Moroccan scientific research teams and encourage the creation of a multidisciplinary research environment capable of finding solutions likely to contribute to the management of potential pandemic crises in the future, the department said.
The task forces will also prepare a summary about the “lessons learned” from COVID-19 and the preventive measures that should come into force in case of similar future challenges.
The task forces will conduct research at various levels across fields. At the level of science medicine, the ministry emphasized the need to promote research in the fields of virology, immunology, health care, epidemics science, and other related fields.
At the technology level, the ministry asked the relevant task force to design medical equipment and relevant production devices.
Other task forces will devote their research to means to mitigate economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and other pandemics.
At the socio-psychological level, the relevant task force will find means to help the education sector continue pedagogic programs amid lockdown, and means to mitigate other impacts of lockdown, including depression.
In the political sphere, a task force will discuss states of emergency and continuity of services.
The ministry asked all relevant parties and institutions to engage in the program, including scientific research institutions and universities across Morocco.
