The third edition of the Inside national congress for innovation and entrepreneurship support structures took place in Annaba, Algeria, from October 6-7, 2026. The event was under the patronage of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups, and Micro-enterprises, and the Annaba province. This year's theme centered on transforming underutilized industrial assets. The congress was organized in collaboration with Badji Mokhtar University, Algeria Telecom, and the Seybouse Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The 2026 finance law in Algeria mandates that industrial enterprises with an annual turnover exceeding two billion dinars must allocate at least 1% of their taxable profit to open innovation. Failure to comply results in automatic taxation of the unspent amount. This legal obligation, backed by financial sanctions, comes as the cost of inaction far exceeds that of compliance. The industrial landscape is evolving faster than most regional organizations anticipated.
The congress features conferences, workshops, and the signing of cooperation agreements with academic and institutional partners from Portugal, Tunisia, and Mauritania. These activities took place on the first day of the event. The second day involved three restricted groups of industrialists and start-ups visiting industrial zones to identify underutilized assets and operational friction points that could become innovation projects.
The groups' findings were presented at the Skills Center of Algeria Telecom. Notable speakers included Asim Alrajhi, a builder of industrial ventures, and Hugo Barros, director of technology transfer at the University of Algarve in Portugal. Practitioners from Tunisia and Mauritania also participated in the discussions.
The event aims to foster collaboration between industries and start-ups to drive innovation. By focusing on underutilized industrial assets, the congress seeks to unlock new opportunities for growth and development. This approach aligns with the Algerian government's efforts to promote entrepreneurship and economic diversification.
The Inside congress has become a significant platform for entrepreneurship support structures in Algeria. With its third edition, it continues to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities in the field. The event's outcomes are expected to contribute to the development of a more innovative and competitive industrial landscape in Algeria.
As the congress concluded, participants and organizers alike emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and innovation in driving Algeria's economic growth. The country's industrial sector is poised to benefit from the exchange of ideas and best practices shared during the event.
Key points
- The Algerian government has made it mandatory for large industrial enterprises to allocate a certain percentage of their profits to innovation.
- The congress brought together international experts and practitioners to share knowledge and experiences.
- The event focused on transforming underutilized industrial assets into innovation projects.
