Solar Innovation as a Driver of Regional Development in Morocco: Evidence from Sectoral Data

In the pursuit of efficient resource management and within the framework of Morocco’s growth strategies, the Kingdom has placed innovation at the core of its development agenda, paying particular attention to sectors considered strategic, notably renewable energy. The Noor solar complex in Ouarzazate exemplifies this ambition to steer the national economy toward a model that is innovative, sustainable, and regionally embedded. However, a critical question remains: what are the actual economic effects and territorial implications of such innovation? This paper explores the multidimensional impacts, both economic and spatial of innovation in Morocco, with a specific focus on the solar energy sector. It aims to assess whether and how technological innovation in this domain serves as a catalyst for regional economic development, or whether it instead contributes to reinforcing existing territorial disparities.