8th Edition
TEDxEMI
January 17, 2026 • 13:00 GMT+1
École Mohammadia d'Ingénieurs, Rabat
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection.
These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.
TEDx's mission is to foster learning, inspiration and wonder—and provoke conversations that matter in our local community.
About EMI
École Mohammadia d'Ingénieurs (EMI) is the premier engineering school in Morocco, founded in 1959. As a pioneer in technical education, EMI has consistently produced leaders who drive innovation and development across various sectors.
Hosting TEDx events at EMI is a natural extension of our school's commitment to excellence and intellectual growth. It provides our students and the wider community with a platform to engage with transformative ideas and visionary thinkers.
The Theme
VIA NOVA
"Via Nova" — The New Path. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, it's a commitment to rebirth, transformation, and the courage to explore the unknown.
In an era of rapid change, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The old ways of thinking and doing are being challenged, making room for new perspectives that can reshape our future. "Via Nova" explores these emerging paths.
Just as the phoenix represents a continuous cycle of renewal, we invite our speakers and audience to embark on a journey of discovery. What are the new ways of living, working, and connecting that will define the next decade?
Innovation
Breaking barriers and creating solutions for a better tomorrow.
Perspective
Seeing the world through new lenses to find hidden opportunities.
Pioneering
Leading the charge into uncharted territories with confidence.
Via Nova
THE FEATHERS
"8 cardinal feathers of the phoenix, each a stage in the journey of rebirth."
CHAPTER I — AWAKENING THE PATH
Rajaâ CHERKAOUI EL MOURSLI
The Invisible Feather
Ever felt the audacity to gaze into the invisible ; to dive into the world inside everything we touch and see, where the smallest particles craft the laws of our universe? If so, then you are in the right place. To guide you through this invisible world, we have the ultimate honor of welcoming a woman who proved that a brilliant mind knows no gender and no geography. A woman who decided that her country’s voice deserved to be heard among the giants of science at CERN , she is Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli, a world-renowned researcher who represented Morocco in the global ATLAS collaboration. Through her eyes, we will see how the invisible guides us toward the future of science. Here on TED, every word breathes, vibrating with the courage of those who finally dared to speak up.
Hicham LAHLOU
The Identity feather
In a world full of copycats, designing our own objects is a refusal to live in someone else’s scenery. It’s our way of leaving a mark on the world, turning perseverance into an act of identity with every creation. Hicham Lahlou embodies this vision as a pioneer of contemporary Moroccan design: founder of Africa Design Organization, first African designer featured on major international stages, collaborator with global brands and institutions, and a driving force behind positioning design as a cultural, economic, and political act in Africa.
Nour-Eddine LAKHMARI
The Truth Feather
In a world that prizes the polished surface over the depth of the heart a place where the hollow habit of comparison has turned us into strangers to ourselves we have become lost in the shadows of societal expectations. We have faded into the background of "the decor of others,". Yet our honorable guest offers a radical call to bring home back to us . As a Director, Screenwriter & Leader of the Urban "New Wave" , Nour-Eddine Lakhmari urges us to abandon the 'ready-made templates' of life and to stop chasing a polished, hollow perfection . For him, true creation is never found in the shadows of imitation; it is born only when we dare to embrace the raw truth of our own reality.
CHAPTER II — SUSTAINING THE FLAME
Ali BENSOUDA
The Transformation feather
When tradition refuses to fade , and technology chooses to listen , Africa raises not by erasing its past , but by turning it into power . Ali Bensouda, the CEO of Capital Maroc (SA) and fierce investor, stands at that intersection , where technology reshapes Africa's old industry . From the early roots of old schools sectors to the heart of modernity and innovation . With our guest we'll discover how can tech awaken Africa's industry from it's prolonged slumber , by honoring its roots while unlocking new possibilities . On the TED stage, every word matters and every idea hums with the potential to change our reality .
Bouchra BAIBANOU
The courage feather
Have you ever been halted by an inner thought? Ever felt torn between stepping into the unknown and fearing you might regret it? Bouchra Baibanou provides the answer , as the first moroccan and arabe woman to summit Annapurna . In her eyes, each of us is a book, and life hands us countless blank pages. Choosing an unusual path may feel harsh at first, and others may not understand the story you’re writing. Yet, true success lies in choosing your own title, crafting your own chapters, and following the story only you are meant to tell.
Hicham IRAQI HOUSSAINI
The agility feather
For a long time, innovation and technology were thought to be the privileges of the largest ones. Today, Artificial Intelligence changes this reality. It's reducing complexity, accelerating decision-making, and giving agile organizations the ability to compete and grow. It is from this perspective that our guest views it: artificial intelligence not as some distant concept, but rather a very practical tool and a real opportunity for the emergence of economies. We feel very privileged to welcome a voice into our midst, articulating a future where power no longer goes to the biggest, but to the boldest. A future in which intelligence is no longer inherited, but shared. Hicham Iraqi Houssaini is an EMI graduate and Managing Director of SAP, running operations across Francophone Africa. Let him invite us to the death of old complexes, where technology stops being a privilege and becomes a bridge. Because here , on the TED stage, we don't just share stories, we ignite the future.
CHAPTER III — CARRYING THE FIRE FORWARD
Assya BENAYADA
The connection feather
Ever thought about living in harmony as individuals, each of us having our own mindset, background, and thoughts, and all of them so different from others’? That’s exactly what today’s guest, coach, trainer, and speaker Assya Benayayda, does in her study ‘L’Architecture du Vivre-Ensemble.’ It's all about building bridges between differences, and creating an environment where coexisting doesn’t seem to be an option, but becomes a clearly defined choice by all of us to redefine the way we live and learn together.
Nassim BELKHAYAT
THe Sovereignty Feather
When do we stop acting as the hands that bring another person's dream to life and finally become the ones to build our own? For too long, we’ve been the "assembly people of the world," so to speak, reading the manuals that have been written by another person. But to be sovereign is not an ordinance , it is something you create. If we can build the world's cars, we can most certainly build our own dreams. Nassim Belkhayat is the man who decided it was our turn at last. With his creation of Neo Motors, he broke the mold with his 100% Moroccan-owned car manufacturer brand, leaving everyone speechless. He made the impossible possible by transplanting us from the spectator seats to the driver's seat. His story is exactly why we are all at this gathering at TED. It’s a message that reminds each of us that we are no longer spectators in today’s industry, but at long last, the architects of our own road.
Partners
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Organizers
The Great Debaters EMI
Brought to you by The Great Debaters EMI. We are a community of passionate individuals dedicated to the art of rhetoric, critical thinking, and impactful communication, committed to bringing "ideas worth spreading" to our campus.
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