Par Chaimaa Hejam
In 2024, the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property recorded remarkable results in filings, thus strengthening innovation in Morocco. However, startups face challenges such as high costs and complex procedures. The Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property, with the support of the State, strives to facilitate access to industrial property to stimulate national competitiveness.
The Board of Directors of the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), chaired by Ryad Mezzour, presented on December 13, 2024 a remarkable assessment of the filings of patents, trademarks and industrial models, thus affirming its key role in innovation and in Morocco’s international competitiveness.
The results for 2024 illustrate a growing interest in the protection of industrial creations in Morocco. With an increase of 15% in trademark applications (26,370), 30% for industrial designs and models (5,611), and 42% in patent applications (2,444, including 244 of Moroccan origin), OMPIC testifies of the vitality and dynamism of Moroccan companies in innovation, thus consolidating their international competitiveness and facilitating the export of products stamped “Made in Morocco”.
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Internationally, Morocco stands out for its remarkable performances: 1era world place for industrial designs, 11th for intangible assets and 30th for brands, according to the Global Innovation Index 2024. This recognition underlines the effectiveness of public policies in terms of innovation and intellectual property in Morocco.
Despite the progress made in supporting innovation in Morocco, startups continue to face significant obstacles. Despite the growing dynamic around artificial intelligence and digitalization, the legal framework for startups remains insufficiently defined. The absence of a specific legal status and an adapted tax regime limits their development.
By being subject to the same tax obligations as traditional SMEs, they encounter difficulties in attracting the investments necessary for their rapid growth. Filing patents, which remains a complex and expensive process, also constitutes an obstacle for these young companies in the start-up phase. The lack of clear legal recognition of startups and the application of a standard tax regime (20% IS, 20% VAT) make this phase particularly difficult. Furthermore, restrictions on certain emerging technologies, such as cryptocurrencies and payment platforms like PayPal, as well as lengthy administrative procedures for obtaining licenses, further complicate their competitiveness.
Faced with countries like Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria, which attract much more investment despite similar environments, Morocco, with only 0.5% of investments intended for African startups, struggles to position itself as a pole of innovation. This situation underlines the urgency of a review of the legal and fiscal framework to effectively support the growth of startups and strengthen Morocco’s competitiveness on the international scene.
In order to overcome these challenges, the Moroccan State, in partnership with OMPIC, is putting in place initiatives aimed at facilitating access to industrial property tools for startups. In 2025, several actions will be deployed, including the digitalization of services to simplify administrative procedures and make filing processes more accessible. Tax incentives and financing programs will also be introduced to support innovative start-ups, including tax credits and tax exemptions during the first years of activity. Finally, awareness campaigns will be carried out to promote the importance of protecting creations, inventions and ideas.
OMPIC plays a key role in strengthening the competitiveness of Moroccan companies and in modernizing the innovation ecosystem. However, to enable Moroccan startups to reach their full potential, increased state support is needed, particularly to address financing, regulatory and tax issues. By modernizing the legal and tax framework, Morocco could become a major player in innovation in Africa, while actively supporting the growth of local businesses on the global stage.
