Wenov by Attijariwafa bank Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards 2025

Concept and Objectives: Wenov is Attijariwafa bank’s innovation entity. Created in 2020, it is dedicated entirely to fostering innovation within the financial sector. Wenov’s objectives are: • To position the Attijariwafa bank group as a major player in the innovation ecosystem in Morocco and Africa. • To accelerate innovation and the implementation of transformation projects. • To develop employee acculturation. • To expose employees to the innovation ecosystem by introducing them to the main players in this ecosystem, by participating in various innovation programs, and by working in co-construction with startups and fintechs. State of Competition: Wenov entered its scale-up phase in 2022, extending its innovation model to subsidiaries and their respective ecosystems. In a highly competitive financial innovation landscape, Wenov distinguishes itself through: • Global recognition as one of the leading financial innovation labs (in its ranking «The Innovators 2021», the prestigious American magazine Global Finance has listed Attijariwafa bank among the best financial innovation laboratories worldwide). • Strong collaboration frameworks with startups, fintechs, and technology partners. • Dedicated innovation programs such as WeLab Boost and Open Innovation Program, designed to facilitate: o Rapid testing and validation of new concepts. o Seamless integration of fintech solutions into banking services. With over 100+ startups engaged and partnerships with academic institutions like Al Akhawayn University, ENSIAS and UM6P (the largest university in Morocco and North Africa, focused on applied research and innovation), Wenov remains at the forefront of technological advancements in finance. This model accelerates the development of new solutions while keeping Wenov competitive in the global market. Sources of Inspiration: Wenov draws inspiration from various sources, including its partnerships with incubators and accelerators such as CEED, the Moroccan Center for Entrepreneurship. Additionally, the lab collaborates with academic institutions like Al Akhawayn University, ENSIAS and UM6P to mentor students and incubate projects focused on themes such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. These collaborations provide a rich source of innovative ideas and human capital, which are essential for the lab's success. Departments involved: Wenov is a distinct entity within the Attijariwafa bank group, focused specifically on innovation and intrapreneurial initiatives. However, four departments within Attijariwafa bank are involved in the Wenov initiative. • The WeLab branch acts as a technological laboratory that gathers innovative ideas from across the bank and develops POCs for fintech products, develops MVPs and accelerates time-to-market for innovative projects and rapid prototyping. • The Smart-Up & Ideation branch plays a crucial role in the Open Innovation program, which aims to accelerate the emergence and implementation of transformation projects by matching business needs with expert startups and promotes open innovation and intrapreneurship. • The Wedesign branch promotes the development of the design thinking method in the project ideation phase. • The Weculture branch boosts innovation within the bank by making it a core part of every collaborator's mindset, while keeping them updated on the latest tech innovations and the evolving banking sector. The main results that Wenov has been able to achieve so far are the following different programs:

1. Wenov Think & Make – Unlocking Intrapreneurship

This initiative empowers employees to submit innovative ideas that address strategic challenges. Sponsored by the CEO and supported by expert mentorship, Think & Make accelerates idea industrialization, providing fast-track funding and exposure to international innovation ecosystems.

Impact: 3000 + participants, 200 + collaborators trained, 20 award-winning ideas.

2. Innovation Circles – Knowledge Sharing & Digital Awareness

A monthly webinar series connecting employees with industry experts on digital transformation, fintech, and emerging technologies.

Impact : 45+ editions, 20,000+ participants, and 100+ speakers, making it a major driver of digital acculturation.

3. A national and international Open Innovation Program – Bridging Startups & Business Needs This is an ambitious open innovation program where Moroccan and African startups co-develop Proof of Concepts (PoCs) to solve 12 business challenges. The program currently covers the bank and FFS (special financing subsidiaries) subsidiaries throughout Morocco. The new feature for 2025: Especially in 2025, Wenov is setting up an open innovation program dedicated to African subsidiaries, to facilitate collaboration between them and African startups and fintechs through a dedicated incubator, and to build a regional ecosystem around the Group.

Impact : 240+ fintech applications, 130+ PoCs developed, and multiple industrialized solutions in areas like AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

4. WelaBoost – Experimenting with Emerging Technologies

A program allowing employees to explore and prototype new technologies (AI, blockchain, VR) through hands-on experimentation, even without prior expertise.

Impact : Seven successful seasons, with the participation of 150 volunteers and the involvement of students from our partner Al Akhawayne University. 20+ PoCs have been realized, and 3 PoCs have been industrialized.

5. Immersive Fintech Day – Strengthening Fintech Collaboration

Co-hosted with KPMG, this event connects fintech startups with banking experts to explore disruptive use cases and new business opportunities.

Impact: Bringing together industry leaders, driving collaboration in areas like open banking, AI, and cybersecurity. 6. A networking event - Strengthening Fintech Startups Collaboration The aim of the event was to present the various measures put in place within the Attijariwafa bank group to develop collaboration with startups and encourage exchanges and contacts between startups and employees. The event brought together over 80 people from the bank's various business lines and more than 40 startups operating in sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, edtech and more. 7. Crossfunctional programs: - Coffee & Debate: Engaging and interactive discussions where employees explore key topics in the financial sector, encouraging active participation and idea exchange. - Innovation Learning: Mentorship sessions for new hires, offering a learning kit and playbook to cultivate a creative mindset - WePodcast: A podcast series highlighting innovative projects and internal successes to inspire and encourage employees.