Tunisia seeks an inclusive innovation strategy
11 June 2015
Read by 2245 persons
During two days of study, reflection, analysis and debates, the API and its institutional partners focused on innovation as a driver of development and wealth and job creation.
The efficiency of Tunisia's innovation ecosystem, the national innovation strategy, the valorization of research, the protection and exploitation of innovation, the mechanisms for financing innovation and the role of innovation networks in regional development: these were the questions debated at the 3rd edition of the National Innovation Days, organized in Tunis on June 9 and 10, 2015, by the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (API) under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines.
This event was intended to be a meeting place, a forum for discussion and exchange of experiences in order to contribute "to the implementation of a plan to revitalize, homogenize and develop an inclusive innovation ecosystem in Tunisia" and "to give it a preponderant role in the economic environment as a driver of competitiveness, growth and regional development".
The API and its partners
The 2015 days, organized in collaboration with the API's national and international partners (Utica, GIZ, UNIDO, Pasri, Jica...), focused on the theme: "Towards an inclusive national innovation strategy". Through 4 panels hosted by eminent specialists, researchers, academics and experts, Tunisian and foreign, they made it possible to discuss the strengths, rather rare, and the shortcomings, quite numerous, of the innovation system in Tunisia.
The opportunity was thus offered to businesses, public and private institutions, civil society and political authorities, to deepen reflection with a view to developing a structural reform capable of defining the role incumbent on each stakeholder, especially since experiences in European countries (France, Germany), presented in plenary, highlighted practical procedures for achieving the innovation objective, starting with the diagnostic phase to arrive at the final result after defining strategic orientations.
The results and recommendations of the two programs launched with the assistance of the European Union (PCAM and Pasri) as well as the contribution of other programs initiated by foreign institutions (GIZ, UNIDO, Jica) could also constitute a relevant support for a constructive debate dealing with the various aspects of the problem and ensuring the optimization of the interface between the spheres of research and business.
Moving towards the region
After the official speeches by Zakaria Hamad, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, and Noureddine Taktak, Director General of the API, announcing the official opening of the proceedings, the debate revealed an awareness of the importance of the day's theme.
Many remarks, observations and criticisms were expressed by the participants and several specific questions were asked, including this one: how to optimize the role of the regions in the national innovation ecosystem, especially since foreign experiences have made the region their starting point? Response from an expert: "Focus efforts on the company, work on regional specificities and work to create new businesses capable of boosting economic and social development".
Other relevant questions asked: what are the clusters located in Tunisia and what governance model have they adopted? How to consolidate the role of civil society in promoting regional development? How to ensure effective coordination between the academic and research world and the production world? What is the reality of financing and support for innovation?
According to the revelations of a young Tunisian who studied engineering in Japan and returned home with his invention prototype, innovation still has a long way to go in Tunisia, because, he explained, "I had no support, no help, no facilities in my country". And he added: "In Tunisia, you can't find anything and you can't move forward with the procedures in place. The State must bet on the capacity of young people and take risks with them." "It must support start-ups and provide them with seed funding, even at a loss," he concluded.
In official documents, however, there is talk of "a significant effort deployed by the State in terms of institutional infrastructure through the creation of competitiveness clusters, technopoles and clusters, the strengthening of research centers, technical centers". If all this is not sufficiently known, it is that there is, at best, a communication problem...
Innovation competition
Furthermore, the organization by the API and the ANPR of the 1st edition of the National Innovation Competition in 2014 confirmed the existence of an innovation potential in the different regions of the country. This competition also revealed the enthusiasm and commitment of a new generation of innovative creators who can benefit from an adequate financing system through banks, Sicar, Sicav and seed funds
Furthermore, "nearly 10% of the 5,700 Tunisian companies employing more than 10 people have benefited from financing mechanisms to carry out innovation projects," Kamel Ouerfelli, Director of the Innovation and Development Center at the API, was keen to specify.
So not everything is negative, but is it enough?
"No," retorts Jamil Chaker, academic, "how can we take stock without having a precise idea of the national indicators and our position compared to what is happening abroad".
The participants in the debate also deplored the lack of coordination between the different stakeholders, as well as the lack of support and assistance for young promoters, which slows down the pace of project creation in promising sectors and with higher added value.
Example to ponder
The cooperation between the National School of Engineers of Sousse (Eniso) and the Sahel Transport Company (STS), a public company, is an experience to consider, because "it embodies the expected dynamism between the economic world and the research and development world," said the CEO of STS, visibly satisfied with this cooperation. And for good reason: "In the past, we relied on foreign countries for the development of perception systems. Today, thanks to this collaboration, we rely on our local capacities and skills," he explained, citing the example of detectors placed on the chassis of the bus that detect failures in the road infrastructure and bring them to the attention of the Ministry of Equipment or municipal authorities.
In any case, three main recommendations should be remembered: strengthen the relationship between business and research and development, go to the regions to identify specific projects based on market studies and create an entity under the supervision of the Prime Minister's office, whose mission would be to stop adequate policies, put them into practice, coordinate efforts between all stakeholders and ensure the support and monitoring of achievements.
Ultimately, if we are to move towards innovation to create jobs and wealth, it is also up to us to overcome all obstacles and remedy all shortcomings together, thanks to a clear vision and an unwavering political will to make the economy, training, research and innovation rhyme.
Wajdi Msaed.
Kapitalis.com
Published June 11, 2015.
Posted online June 11, 2015.
The efficiency of Tunisia's innovation ecosystem, the national innovation strategy, the valorization of research, the protection and exploitation of innovation, the mechanisms for financing innovation and the role of innovation networks in regional development: these were the questions debated at the 3rd edition of the National Innovation Days, organized in Tunis on June 9 and 10, 2015, by the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (API) under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines.
This event was intended to be a meeting place, a forum for discussion and exchange of experiences in order to contribute "to the implementation of a plan to revitalize, homogenize and develop an inclusive innovation ecosystem in Tunisia" and "to give it a preponderant role in the economic environment as a driver of competitiveness, growth and regional development".
The API and its partners
The 2015 days, organized in collaboration with the API's national and international partners (Utica, GIZ, UNIDO, Pasri, Jica...), focused on the theme: "Towards an inclusive national innovation strategy". Through 4 panels hosted by eminent specialists, researchers, academics and experts, Tunisian and foreign, they made it possible to discuss the strengths, rather rare, and the shortcomings, quite numerous, of the innovation system in Tunisia.
The opportunity was thus offered to businesses, public and private institutions, civil society and political authorities, to deepen reflection with a view to developing a structural reform capable of defining the role incumbent on each stakeholder, especially since experiences in European countries (France, Germany), presented in plenary, highlighted practical procedures for achieving the innovation objective, starting with the diagnostic phase to arrive at the final result after defining strategic orientations.
The results and recommendations of the two programs launched with the assistance of the European Union (PCAM and Pasri) as well as the contribution of other programs initiated by foreign institutions (GIZ, UNIDO, Jica) could also constitute a relevant support for a constructive debate dealing with the various aspects of the problem and ensuring the optimization of the interface between the spheres of research and business.
Moving towards the region
After the official speeches by Zakaria Hamad, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, and Noureddine Taktak, Director General of the API, announcing the official opening of the proceedings, the debate revealed an awareness of the importance of the day's theme.
Many remarks, observations and criticisms were expressed by the participants and several specific questions were asked, including this one: how to optimize the role of the regions in the national innovation ecosystem, especially since foreign experiences have made the region their starting point? Response from an expert: "Focus efforts on the company, work on regional specificities and work to create new businesses capable of boosting economic and social development".
Other relevant questions asked: what are the clusters located in Tunisia and what governance model have they adopted? How to consolidate the role of civil society in promoting regional development? How to ensure effective coordination between the academic and research world and the production world? What is the reality of financing and support for innovation?
According to the revelations of a young Tunisian who studied engineering in Japan and returned home with his invention prototype, innovation still has a long way to go in Tunisia, because, he explained, "I had no support, no help, no facilities in my country". And he added: "In Tunisia, you can't find anything and you can't move forward with the procedures in place. The State must bet on the capacity of young people and take risks with them." "It must support start-ups and provide them with seed funding, even at a loss," he concluded.
In official documents, however, there is talk of "a significant effort deployed by the State in terms of institutional infrastructure through the creation of competitiveness clusters, technopoles and clusters, the strengthening of research centers, technical centers". If all this is not sufficiently known, it is that there is, at best, a communication problem...
Innovation competition
Furthermore, the organization by the API and the ANPR of the 1st edition of the National Innovation Competition in 2014 confirmed the existence of an innovation potential in the different regions of the country. This competition also revealed the enthusiasm and commitment of a new generation of innovative creators who can benefit from an adequate financing system through banks, Sicar, Sicav and seed funds
Furthermore, "nearly 10% of the 5,700 Tunisian companies employing more than 10 people have benefited from financing mechanisms to carry out innovation projects," Kamel Ouerfelli, Director of the Innovation and Development Center at the API, was keen to specify.
So not everything is negative, but is it enough?
"No," retorts Jamil Chaker, academic, "how can we take stock without having a precise idea of the national indicators and our position compared to what is happening abroad".
The participants in the debate also deplored the lack of coordination between the different stakeholders, as well as the lack of support and assistance for young promoters, which slows down the pace of project creation in promising sectors and with higher added value.
Example to ponder
The cooperation between the National School of Engineers of Sousse (Eniso) and the Sahel Transport Company (STS), a public company, is an experience to consider, because "it embodies the expected dynamism between the economic world and the research and development world," said the CEO of STS, visibly satisfied with this cooperation. And for good reason: "In the past, we relied on foreign countries for the development of perception systems. Today, thanks to this collaboration, we rely on our local capacities and skills," he explained, citing the example of detectors placed on the chassis of the bus that detect failures in the road infrastructure and bring them to the attention of the Ministry of Equipment or municipal authorities.
In any case, three main recommendations should be remembered: strengthen the relationship between business and research and development, go to the regions to identify specific projects based on market studies and create an entity under the supervision of the Prime Minister's office, whose mission would be to stop adequate policies, put them into practice, coordinate efforts between all stakeholders and ensure the support and monitoring of achievements.
Ultimately, if we are to move towards innovation to create jobs and wealth, it is also up to us to overcome all obstacles and remedy all shortcomings together, thanks to a clear vision and an unwavering political will to make the economy, training, research and innovation rhyme.
Wajdi Msaed.
Kapitalis.com
Published June 11, 2015.
Posted online June 11, 2015.
