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 primary goal is to support research projects that address national and international priorities. According to the agency's Director-General, Chédli El Abedli, these projects aim to promote scientific research and innovation in Tunisia.
The agency focuses on financing research projects in areas of national and international importance, such as environment and agriculture. El Abedli emphasized the significance of research in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, which may have a substantial impact on Tunisia's economy in the coming years. He stressed that relying on scientific research and evaluating its results is crucial, particularly in priority areas.
Tunisia has made notable progress in scientific research, ranking 17th globally in the scientific and technical article intensity index, according to the 2025 Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The country ranked 76th out of 139 economies in the overall ranking and 58th in innovation outputs. This index assesses the number of scientific articles published in various fields and indexed in international databases.
El Abedli highlighted Tunisia's partnership with the European Union in scientific research and innovation, offering several opportunities for international cooperation, particularly in agriculture and environment. The agency secured European funding for the "Support for Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Field of Environment" project, valued at approximately €11.5 million, which will run until 2028.
As part of this project, 200 students were selected for the "Young Researchers Mobility in the Field of Environment" program, allowing them to work with municipalities, environmental associations, industrial establishments, and research centers to identify issues and develop applied research projects. So far, 120 projects have been funded out of 200 planned, with the remaining projects awaiting financing procedures.
The agency launched a call for proposals for 13 universities to select an economic partner and develop a project aimed at promoting activities that are the foundation of Tunisia's economy in priority areas. The selected projects will receive funding of approximately TND 800,000. The deadline for submitting proposals is set for September 30, 2026.
The agency's efforts aim to support research and innovation in Tunisia, addressing the country's challenges and promoting economic growth. By fostering partnerships and providing funding, the agency seeks to enhance the country's scientific research capabilities and contribute to its development.
Key points
- The National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research has funded 1200 research projects in agriculture, environment, health, and energy since 2012.
- Tunisia ranked 17th globally in the scientific and technical article intensity index, according to the 2025 Global Innovation Index.
- The agency secured €11.5 million in European funding for the "Support for Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Field of Environment" project.
