Dynamics and Fragilities of the Moroccan Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: From Seeding to Sustainable Growth
The Moroccan entrepreneurial ecosystem has experienced significant growth over the last decade through the expansion of public policies, startup support structures, incubators, accelerators, and investment initiatives aimed at stimulating innovation and economic diversification. Entrepreneurship is increasingly considered a strategic lever for job creation, technological modernization, and social inclusion. However, despite the multiplication of programs encouraging business creation, the sustainability of startups and their transition from early-stage development to long-term growth remain major challenges. This article analyzes the dynamics and structural fragilities of the Moroccan entrepreneurial ecosystem by examining its institutional foundations, performance indicators, and systemic barriers. The study highlights the paradox between strong support for startup creation and the limited mechanisms ensuring post-creation sustainability. Using insights from international rankings and reports such as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and StartupBlink, the article evaluates Morocco’s global entrepreneurial positioning and identifies both strengths and weaknesses within the ecosystem. Particular attention is devoted to issues related to bureaucracy, access to finance, entrepreneurial education, research and development transfer, and regional disparities. The paper also explores emerging signals of ecosystem maturity through successful Moroccan startups operating in sectors such as digital health, fintech, trade technology, and sustainable innovation. Finally, the article proposes strategic recommendations focused on educational reform, long-term entrepreneurial support, financial inclusion, innovation transfer, and stakeholder coordination. Keywords : Moroccan entrepreneurial ecosystem ; startups ; sustainability ; innovation ; entrepreneurship ; startup financing ; entrepreneurial education ; business incubation ; economic development ; technology transfer ; venture capital ; entrepreneurial resilience ; Morocco ; digital transformation ; innovation policy.
Authors
- Meriem Bekri
- Yasmine Mokhtari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0047-9763)
- Kaoutar Adil
Publication Details
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Published
- 2026-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24012630
- Primary Topic
- Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00