• Morocco launches Gamification Lab to support gaming start-ups and innovation

• Initiative targets public-sector adoption in education, health, and tourism

• Part of broader push to grow creative economy, now with 40 gaming start-ups

Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication has partnered with the state-owned Caisse de dépôt et de gestion (CDG) and its investment arm, CDG Invest, to launch the “Gamification Lab” program. The agreement, signed in Rabat on Thursday, November 13, aims to boost local development and strengthen Morocco’s position in the fast-growing video game market.

The Gamification Lab will create a national platform to promote and facilitate the adoption of gamification solutions developed by Moroccan start-ups. These tools will be made available to public- and private-sector organizations active in education, health, culture, employment, and tourism.

Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid said the initiative is part of a broader effort to support small cultural businesses, particularly those involved in video gaming. He noted the sector’s rapid expansion, pointing out that Morocco now counts around 40 gaming start-ups, compared with just two or three in 2021.

This new agreement follows recent efforts to organize and develop the gaming ecosystem. Last May, two agreements were signed to strengthen professional training in gaming-related careers. One introduced dedicated university programs in video game development, while the other created three vocational pathways: e-sport caster, e-sport streamer, and video game laboratory technician.

The announcement comes at a time when Africa’s gaming market is experiencing strong momentum. According to a report released in February by the African publisher Carry1st and research firm Newzoo, the sector generated 1.8 billion dollars in 2024, up 12.4 percent from 2023. By comparison, the global market grew by only 2.1 percent.

Through this partnership, Moroccan authorities aim to support content creation, strengthen the broader start-up ecosystem, and develop skilled employment. Their goal is to position Morocco as one of Africa’s emerging hubs in the creative and digital economy.

Samira Njoya