Our MEMBERS & PARTNERS

He has served since 2017 as a biomedical advisor for the Singapore-based venture capital firm 360ip Japan, where he contributes to technology evaluation, scientific due diligence, and global R&D strategy for emerging life science and biotechnology ventures. He currently holds an Associate Professorship at the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland) and an Affiliate Professor position at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P, Morocco), where he promotes international research collaboration in genomics, biotechnology, and translational science. Dr. Taniguchi received his PhD from Université Laval in Canada. During his post-doctoral training, he conducted research at leading institutions including the McGill University Goodman Cancer Research Centre, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, and the Integrative Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo. He continues to maintain active collaborations with RIKEN, Doshisha University, and the University of Tsukuba, as well as partnerships with European research institutes. Through these academic and industry networks, he contributes to cross-continental research initiatives spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, promoting international collaboration in biomedical science, biotechnology, and innovation.

Mohamed Amine Boubnad: Financial and Corporate Governance Specialist 

He is a CPA and Statutory Auditor, having over twenty years of experience in accounting, taxation, finance, and auditing. He has advised start-ups, SMEs, multinational corporations, and public institutions on corporate structuring, governance, and business development, and also lectures at several higher education institutions. He holds the Diplôme d’Expertise Comptable (DEC), the highest professional qualification in accounting and auditing in France, issued by the Ministry of National Education. He also holds a Master in Money and Finance from Mohammed V University (Morocco), a Master in Accounting, Control and Auditing from the University of Rennes (France), and a Master in Business Law from the University of Perpignan (France).

Kumar Prasanth: Partnership Specialist

He is a senior strategy, partnerships, and entrepreneurship leader with 20+ years of experience across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He currently leads the Entrepreneur Academy at UM6P Morocco and serves on the Local Ecosystem Investment Committee at UM6P Ventures, where he supports founder development, venture growth, and early-stage investment pathways. He is also a Stanford Seed Consultant, engages with MassChallenge Switzerland and Ignyte Dubai, and mentors founders through several pan-African and global innovation platforms. Recognized as a thought leader, he was named Business Advisor of the Year 2023 by the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit and Awards (ASEB). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Postgraduate Certificate in Management from IIM Kozhikode, and executive education credentials from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.

Professor Bouabid Badaoui: South–South Cooperation and Government Relations Specialist 

He obtained his engineering degree from IAV Hassan II (Morocco), a master’s degree from CIHEAM (Spain), and a PhD through a joint program between Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and AgroParisTech, where his research was part of the Marie Curie–supported RIVAGE project. He has held research positions in Spain and Italy and is currently a professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat. Professor Badaoui actively connects African research institutions, government stakeholders, and international partners to advance collaborative programs in genomics and sustainable livestock systems. He currently serves as the president for the African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) and leads research integrating genomics and artificial intelligence to improve climate resilience and sustainability in livestock/plants production across Africa.