Tunisia has made notable progress in the Global Innovation Index 2026, rising five places to rank 71st globally among 139 economies. This improvement is a testament to the country's growing innovation capabilities. In 2025, Tunisia ranked 76th. The country's innovation outputs also saw a significant boost, ranking 56th, up from 92nd in innovation inputs.
According to Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Monther Belaid, Tunisia's ranking reflects its strong human and scientific capital. The country leads globally in the number of science and engineering graduates and ranks 12th in scientific production. These results are based on data from the Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
On the African continent, Tunisia ranks fourth, behind Mauritius, South Africa, and Morocco. The country outperforms several African economies, including Egypt, Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, and Senegal. This achievement highlights Tunisia's potential for innovation and growth.
Despite these advancements, the Global Innovation Index reveals challenges related to Tunisia's ability to convert its scientific capabilities into economic outcomes. The country ranks 124th in business environment and 112th in innovation linkages. This underscores the need for stronger private sector involvement in research and development, as well as closer ties between universities, research centers, and economic institutions.
Minister Belaid emphasizes the importance of transitioning from producing scientific knowledge to valorizing research results and investing in them economically. This involves enhancing technology transfer, converting research outputs into innovative products and services, and developing the capacity of institutions to absorb and utilize innovations.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Higher Education is focused on developing mechanisms to valorize scientific research results, promoting technology transfer, and supporting innovative initiatives. The ministry aims to improve collaboration between universities, research centers, and economic institutions, enabling the conversion of research projects into investable and marketable applications.
The ministry's vision prioritizes directing investments towards developing scientific and technological infrastructure, enhancing research institution capabilities, and encouraging economic institutions to invest in research and development. This strategic approach seeks to improve the returns on scientific research and expand its contribution to economic sector development and competitiveness.
Key points
- Tunisia ranks 71st globally in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, up five places from 2025.
- The country leads globally in the number of science and engineering graduates and ranks 12th in scientific production.
- Tunisia faces challenges in converting scientific capabilities into economic outcomes, ranking 124th in business environment and 112th in innovation linkages.
