Professor Youssef Belmabkhout of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has been selected for the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list, one of the world's most prestigious recognitions for scientific influence. Out of 7,131 researchers worldwide, he is one of only two Moroccans featured this year, the sole representative of UM6P, and one of just 16 African scientists to make the list (with 11 from South Africa, 2 from Kenya and 1 from Egypt), UM6P celebrated on LinkedIn earlier this week. Prof. Youssef Belmabkhout was selected in the Cross-Field category, underscoring the broad international reach of his scientific contributions. According to Clarivate, his work has been cited more than 20,600 times (nearly 20,000 excluding self-citations) in over 13,600 citing articles, reflecting his influence across multiple research domains. His impact extends beyond academia: 219 patent citations from 138 patent documents demonstrate the industrial and innovative relevance of his findings. He has also completed 177 verified peer reviews, confirming his active role in upholding scientific rigor and integrity. A Moroccan-Canadian petrochemical engineer and expert in advanced material-separation processes, Belmabkhout brings extensive experience from academic, governmental and industrial laboratories. His research addresses a central global challenge: reconciling rising energy demands with increasingly strict environmental standards. He leads major projects in gas storage, catalysis, purification technologies, CO2 capture, and sensing materials, developing solutions that balance profitability with sustainability. UM6P describes his distinction as a testament to his «sustained scientific impact» and to the university's commitment to research that «shapes the future of science locally and globally». Born in Rabat in 1974 and raised in Khouribga, he studied in Casablanca before pursuing higher education in Russia, then earning his PhD in Applied Sciences in Belgium in 2005. His career later took him to leading research institutions in France, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, including the French Petroleum Institute, the University of Ottawa, Canada's National Research Council, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, where he served as Senior Research Scientist. Prof. Belmabkhout has previously been named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in the Cross-Field category for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
