Three Moroccan engineering students from the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques in Settat—Mouad Sarawi, Salah Bouhlal, and Mohamed Kerroum—first earned gold medals at the SNAEIA Diginnov 2024 and 2025 competitions, cementing their reputation as innovators on the national stage. Building on this success, they secured a gold medal at the “IWA 2025” International Innovation Week in the United States, where they were awarded the honorary title “Star of USA” for their revolutionary sea rescue drone.

This drone slashes average rescue times from eight minutes to just two, using advanced cameras to swiftly locate individuals in distress and deploying a self-inflating buoy. Critically, the team developed a buoy system costing under 200 dirhams—a fraction of the 3,000 dirhams charged for similar market solutions—making it a lifeline for Morocco’s Civil Protection services.

The students are now finalizing plans to register their invention with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to secure a patent. Their project is hailed as a transformative solution for beach safety in Morocco, with the potential to save countless lives by accelerating emergency responses.

The SNAEIA Diginnov wins underscore their consistent excellence, while the IWA 2025 accolade highlights their global impact. Together, these achievements reflect their dedication to merging affordability with cutting-edge technology—a vision that could redefine maritime rescue operations worldwide. 🌟