The National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research in Tunisia has funded approximately 1200 research projects in various fields, including agriculture, environment, health, energy, and communication technologies, since its inception in 2012. This information was revealed by the agency's General Director, Shadli El Abdelli, during the third edition of the European Night of Researchers, held at the City of Sciences in Tunis.
El Abdelli emphasized that the agency prioritizes funding research projects in areas of national and international significance, such as environment and agriculture. The agency also focuses on evaluating research results and transferring technology. Tunisia, like other countries, faces challenges related to climate change, which may impact the country's economy in the coming years.
El Abdelli stressed that addressing these challenges requires reliance on scientific research and the evaluation of its results, particularly in priority areas. According to the Global Innovation Index 2025, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Tunisia ranked 17th globally in terms of scientific and technical article density.
The country's ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2025 was 76th out of 139 economies, and 58th in innovation outputs. The scientific and technical article density index is based on the number of articles published in scientific and technological fields, indexed in international databases.
Tunisia is a partner of the European Union in scientific research and innovation, offering several opportunities and mechanisms for benefiting from international cooperation projects, particularly in agriculture and environment. The agency obtained European funding for the "Support for Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Field of Environment" project, valued at €11.5 million (approximately 38.8 million Tunisian dinars), which will run until 2028.
Within the project's framework, 200 students were selected for the "Young Researchers Mobility in the Field of Environment" program and placed at the disposal of municipalities, environmental associations, industrial establishments, and research centers. This initiative aims to identify issues and develop applied research projects to contribute to solving them.
So far, 120 projects have been funded out of 200 planned, with the funding process for the remaining projects ongoing. The project also involves launching a call for proposals for 13 universities to choose an economic partner and develop a project aimed at enhancing activities that are a cornerstone of the Tunisian economy in priority areas.
Key points
- The National Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research in Tunisia has funded 1200 research projects since 2012.
- Tunisia ranked 17th globally in scientific and technical article density, according to the Global Innovation Index 2025.
- The agency obtained €11.5 million in European funding for the "Support for Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Field of Environment" project.
