International University of Rabat Secures Gold and Bronze Medals at Middle East Innovation Fair

The International University of Rabat (UIR) has garnered international acclaim by winning prestigious awards at the Middle East International Innovation Fair. The event, organized with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), showcased cutting-edge innovations from global participants.

UIR’s standout contributions included two health-related inventions that received top honors. The first, awarded a Gold Medal, is an innovative endodontic instrument developed by Professors Sonia Ghoul and Abdelwahed Barkaoui from UIR’s CRESS and LERMA laboratories. This dental tool features a self-recovery mechanism designed to address fractures during root canal procedures—a complication that poses significant challenges in dental practice. By integrating a recovery system directly into the instrument, the innovation aims to reduce patient risks, alleviate procedural stress, and minimize the need for invasive interventions. According to UIR, this approach represents a novel solution in endodontics by incorporating potential technical failure into the device’s design.

The second recognized innovation, which earned a Bronze Medal, is iRespire, a smart asthma monitoring system created by Nouhaila Fraihi and Professor Ouassim Karrakchou at UIR’s TIC Lab. Utilizing Edge AI technology, iRespire offers continuous, personalized monitoring for asthma patients. The system integrates a smart inhaler, electronic stethoscope, environmental sensors, and a connected watch to analyze real-time physiological and environmental data. Its primary objective is to predict asthma attacks before they occur, thereby enhancing medical management through data-driven insights. UIR describes this project as a significant advancement toward predictive and connected healthcare.

Beyond individual awards, UIR received an institutional Gold Medal recognizing its academic excellence and steadfast commitment to innovation and research development. Since its founding in 2010, UIR has rapidly established itself as one of Morocco’s premier higher education institutions.

The university’s international reputation has been bolstered by its inclusion among the top 1,000 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Nationally, UIR ranked first in the Impact Rankings, which evaluate universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

UIR has also expanded its global academic collaborations, notably through a strategic partnership with Mississippi State University in the United States. This alliance promotes joint research initiatives and student exchange programs.

Furthermore, UIR’s Rabat Business School has achieved international recognition, ranking 20th globally in the 2025 Financial Times Masters in Management (MiM) ranking.

The university’s leadership celebrated these achievements during its 15th anniversary in November, highlighting a 93% employability rate for graduates one year after completing their studies.

These accolades reflect UIR’s growing influence in innovation and higher education, underscoring its role as a leading institution in Morocco and the broader Middle East region.