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Key Points
- Oracle launches new research center in Casablanca to boost AI and cloud innovation across Africa, in partnership with the Moroccan government.
- Company to establish two cloud regions in Morocco, helping African institutions shift to Oracle Cloud while ensuring data sovereignty.
- Oracle partners with Moroccan universities; 94% of student interns secured full-time roles, strengthening local tech workforce.
Oracle Corporation, the global software giant co-founded by American billionaire Larry Ellison, has opened a new research and development center in Casablanca, Morocco. The move reflects the company’s growing interest in expanding its presence across Africa, particularly in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Oracle expands R&D footprint in Morocco
The Casablanca facility, launched in the presence of Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and Digital Transition Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, is part of an agreement with the government to strengthen local R&D capacity. It arrives at a time when demand for AI-powered solutions is rising sharply across sectors, from business to public services.
Housed in a seven-floor building, the new center is more than just a workplace. It includes modern amenities like an auditorium, restaurant, gyms, prayer rooms, and collaborative meeting spaces. Oracle says it is partnering with top universities in Morocco to bring in engineering students as interns, 94 percent of whom earned full-time positions last year.
“This new R&D center shows how serious we are about investing in innovation and working with local talent,” said Craig Stephen, executive vice president at Oracle. “Morocco offers a strong base for building advanced technology solutions for Africa, the Middle East, and beyond.”
Oracle grows African cloud footprint
Alongside the research facility, Oracle plans to roll out two cloud regions in Casablanca and Settat. These cloud hubs will help African businesses and institutions shift their operations to Oracle Cloud, offering secure, scalable services while keeping data within national borders.
Oracle’s efforts in Morocco come just months after it announced a $5 billion investment to expand AI-driven cloud services in the UK. That move was designed to support the British government’s push to integrate AI across its economy.
Masiyiwa builds AI hub in Africa
Meanwhile, Africa’s digital infrastructure is also getting a major upgrade from another tech heavyweight, Strive Masiyiwa. The Zimbabwean billionaire, through his company Cassava Technologies, is building the continent’s first dedicated AI data center in South Africa.
Scheduled to launch in mid-2025, the facility will run on Nvidia’s high-performance computing systems and offer local access to powerful AI tools. Cassava’s project is built with long-term growth and sustainability in mind. It’s expected to expand into Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco. More than just boosting digital capacity, the center could help keep African data on the continent and support local developers, researchers, and governments.
