Tunisia's National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research has funded approximately 1200 research projects in various fields, including agriculture, environment, health, and energy, since its inception in 2012. The agency's efforts focus on supporting research projects that address national and international priorities. According to the agency's Director-General, Chédli El Abdelli, these projects aim to promote scientific research and innovation in Tunisia.
The funded research projects aim to address pressing issues such as climate change, which poses significant challenges to Tunisia's economy. El Abdelli emphasized the importance of relying on scientific research to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to develop innovative solutions. Tunisia has made notable progress in scientific research, ranking 17th globally in scientific and technical article density, according to the 2025 Global Innovation Index.
The 2025 Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ranked Tunisia 76th globally out of 139 economies in the overall ranking and 58th in innovation outputs. El Abdelli noted that the index evaluates the number of scientific articles published in international databases, highlighting Tunisia's growing research output. The country's scientific community is actively engaged in producing high-quality research.
Tunisia has established partnerships with international organizations, including the European Union, to promote scientific research and innovation. The National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research has secured European funding for projects such as "Supporting Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Field of Environment," valued at €11.5 million (approximately 38.8 million Tunisian dinars). This project aims to support research and innovation in environmental sciences.
As part of this project, the agency has launched initiatives such as the "Young Researchers Mobility Program in the Field of Environment," which supports 200 students. These students are placed with local authorities, environmental associations, industrial companies, and research centers to identify environmental challenges and develop applied research projects. So far, 120 projects have been funded, with the remaining projects awaiting financing.
The agency has also launched a call for proposals for 13 universities to select an economic partner and develop projects that promote Tunisia's economic priorities. The selected projects will receive funding of 800,000 Tunisian dinars each. The deadline for submitting proposals is set for September 30, 2026. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between academia and industry.
The National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research continues to play a vital role in promoting scientific research and innovation in Tunisia. With its focus on addressing national priorities and fostering international partnerships, the agency is well-positioned to drive progress in key sectors such as agriculture, environment, health, and energy. The agency's efforts are expected to contribute to Tunisia's economic development and competitiveness.
Key points
- The National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research has funded 1200 research projects in Tunisia since 2012.
- Tunisia ranks 17th globally in scientific and technical article density, according to the 2025 Global Innovation Index.
- The agency has secured €11.5 million in European funding for environmental research projects.
