THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

Mziwandile Madikizela
High Impact Innovation, Johannesburg

List of abbreviations
Ministry of Scientific Research Technology and Competency Development

MSRTDC

Institute for Agricultural Research and

IRESA

Scientific Research and Technology Innovation System

SRTIS

Public Research Institute

PRI

Public Health Institute

PHI

Tunisian Dinar

TD

Federal Research Programme

FRP

Programme of Innovation and Research Development

PIRD

Valorisation of Research Results

VRR

Technology Achievement Index TAI

Section 1: The political environment

Tunisia is a republic with a strong
presidential system dominated by a
single political party. The ruling party,
the Constitutional Democratic Assembly
(RCD), was the sole legal party for 25
years, when it was known as the
Socialist Destourian Party (PSD)-and
still dominates political life. The
President is elected to 5-year terms and
appoints a Prime Minister and cabinet,
who play a strong role in the execution
of policy. The central government also
appoints regional governors and local
administrators;
largely
consultative
mayors and municipal councils are
elected. There is a unicameral
legislative body, the Chamber of
Deputies, which has 182 seats, 20% of
which are reserved for the opposition. It
plays a growing role as an arena for
debate on national policy but never
originates legislation and virtually
always passes bills presented by the
executive with only minor changes.

Tunisia is a leader in the Arab world in promoting the legal and social status of women. A
Personal Status Code was adopted shortly after independence in 1956 that, among other
things, gave women full legal status and outlawed polygamy. The government required
parents to send girls to school, and today more than 50% of university students are women.
Rights of women and children were further enhanced by 1993 reforms, which included a
provision to allow Tunisian women to transmit citizenship even if they are married to a
foreigner and living abroad. The government has supported a remarkably successful family
planning program that has reduced the population growth rate to just over 1% per annum,
contributing to Tunisia's economic and social stability.

Section 2: Country characteristics

2.1

Basic economic outlook

Tunisia is continuing to make major progress in terms of economic and social development.
The prudent macroeconomic policies initiated in recent years have allowed inflation and the
budget deficit to be stabilized and economic aggregates to be consolidated. The high level of
education of its labour force, its proximity to the European market and its social and
institutional stability are advantages that should enable Tunisia to develop new activities,
notably in the service sector. The process of price liberalisation and abandonment of
subsidies is slow, however. At international level, integration of the Tunisian economy poses
several problems in terms of competitiveness and adaptability. With the end of the Multi-Fibre
Agreement in January 2005 and the numerous free trade agreements it has signed, the
country risks feeling the full force of the impact of its openness to international competition.
The difficulties currently being expressed by its main export industry textiles and clothing
highlight its need to find new sources of growth, capable of generating jobs. The high level of
unemployment (13.9 percent in 2004), particularly among qualified young higher education
graduates, is also a major challenge for political leaders. Finally, numerous structural reforms
are needed to reinforce transport infrastructure. To respond to these issues, and to integrate
into an ever more competitive world market, Tunisia needs to improve its business and
private sector investment climate, put greater emphasis on governance and reduce
bureaucracy. The recovery of the Tunisian economy was confirmed in 2004 thanks to the
pursuit of sound macroeconomic policies. GDP growth improved, rising from 5.5 percent in
2004 to 5.6 percent in 2005. Forecasts for 2006 and 2007 put real GDP growth at 5.3 and 5.5
percent respectively.

Figure 2:

GDP growth between 2000 and 2005 for Tunisia

GDP growth
6
%GDP growth

5
4
Series1

3
2
1
0
2000

2001

2002

2003

Years

Source: OECD African Outlook Report

2004

2005

Table 1:

Selected economic Indicators of Tunisia

BASIC ECONOMIC DATA

GDP (PPP)

$82.85 billion (2005 est.)

GDP-real Growth rate

4.2% (2005 est.)

GDP per capita

$8,200 (2005 est.)

Inflation Rate

2.1% (2005 est.)

GDP composition per sector

agriculture

13.2%

industry

31.8%

services

55% (2005 est.)

Source: Compiled from CIA Fact Sheet

2.2

Demographic characteristics

Table 2:

Summary of geographic and demographic characteristics of Tunisia

GEOGRAPHY
Area

total: 163,610 sq km; land: 155,360 sq km: water: 8,250 sq km

Cities

Tunis, Capital 1.8 million inhabitants, including suburbs)

Other large cities: Sfax (231,000), Arianna (153,000), Gabs (139,000),
Sousse (125,000), Kairouan (103,000)

Climate

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in
south

PEOPLE
Nationality

Tunisian(s) Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1

Population

10,175,014 (July 2006 est).

Religions

Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Language

Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)

Literacy

total population: 74.3%; male: 83.4%; female: 65.3% (2004 est)

Health(life expectancy)

75.12 years

Workforce

3.41 million Agriculture-80%, Industry, commerce, government-20%

Source: CIA Fact Sheet

Section 3: Science and Technology System

3.1

Governance of science and technology

3.1.1

The National Science and Technology policy of Tunisia

The creation of MSRTCD represented an essential turning point for the promotion of the R&D
sector. In this context, the objectives of the scientific research and technological innovation
system (SRTIS) are:

To reinforce coordination between different components of SRTIS in order to

create the necessary synergy to build enduring competencies and to ensure a
more sustained financial support to the sector;

To continue the structuring of the SRTIS through the establishment of new

research centres, laboratories and research units

To promote competency development, or capacity building, as an important

factor to consolidate the SRTIS as well as an efficient way towards innovation
and technological transfer;

To increase progressively internal expenditure allocated to the research system

reaching 1,25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009, while ensuring
diversity of financial resources allocated by reducing progressively the State
contribution and reinforcing those of the private sector and international
cooperation;

To facilitate the execution of research programs in laboratories and research

units through more flexibility of procedures in spending funds allocated to
scientific activities;

To increase efforts through Federative Research Programs;

To promote innovation and technological development through the support of

innovative companies, the valorisation of research results, the reinforcement of
partnership between research structures and private companies and the creation
of technoparks and incubators;

To reinforce the follow up and the evaluation of research activities and

structures;

To develop a high level national expertise in the strategic fields for the
development and the safety of the country;

To promote scientific and technological culture and information through

development of information networks and the improvement of accessibility to
databases and documentation centres at the national and international levels;

To develop international cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels in

order to facilitate the exchange of experiences between Tunisian research teams
and other partners, to access international scientific excellence networks, to
benefit from international research financing, and to contribute to universal
scientific and technological progress.

3.1.2

Institutional Arrangements
3.1.2.1

Ministry of Scientific Research, Technology and Competency

Development (MSRTCD)

The Ministry of Scientific Research, Technology and Competency Development (MSRTCD) is

in charge of formulating the national policy and strategy in the field of scientific research and
technological development, as well as its execution in collaboration with concerned ministries
and has the following mandate:

Drafting and following up of plans, implementation strategies, and the

determination of priorities and programs in the scientific research, technological
innovation and competency development sector;

Management of financial resources coming from public and private sectors and
from international cooperation to the benefit of the scientific research;

Proposing appropriate mechanisms for an optimal use of scientific equipments

within the framework of partnership conventions with production structures;

Spreading the culture of intellectual property and patents among researchers

and inventors;

Preparing strategies for international cooperation and follow up of international

agreements;

Involvement of Tunisian scientific competencies abroad in the determination,

execution and evaluation of research programs

Management, evaluation and coordinating structures

The Management, evaluation and co-ordinating as well as their roles and responsibilities are
as follows:

The Higher council of scientific research and technology

The Higher Council of Scientific Research and Technology (chaired by the Prime
Minister) is in charge of following up and evaluating the sector, elaborating
recommendations on the general orientation of the scientific research and
technological innovation and proposing new measures leading to the promotion
of scientific research and technological development.

National consultative council of scientific research and technology

The National Consultative Council of Scientific Research and Technology

formulates proposals concerning matters in the field of Scientific Research,
Technology and Competency Development which are in relation with important
national orientations and major strategic programs of the country

National evaluation committee of scientific research activities

The National Evaluation Committee of Scientific Research Activities is an

independent body in charge of the evaluation of public scientific research
structures and activities as well as private sector research programs benefiting
from a public funding.

The Committee defines the criteria, the methods and the suitable procedures of
evaluation within the framework of its mission. For each evaluation, the
committee puts forward recommendations aiming at increasing efficiency and
adequacy between allocated means and achieved results.

Technical committee of scientific research and technology

The Technical Committee of Scientific Research and Technology provides

coordination between the different ministries, in the follow-up of the progress of
the execution of the research programs and their financing and in the preparation
of the works of the Higher Council of Scientific Research and Technology.

3.1.2.2

The Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture, environment and water resources coordinates agricultural

research and higher education through the Institute for Agricultural Research and Agricultural
Higher Education (IRESA). IRESA insures both financial and administrative management for
its research centres.
3.1.2.3

Other Ministries

Other ministries have recently created research institutions each in its field of interest. The
Ministry of Education cooperates with MSRTCD especially in human capital development and
in the technoparks.

Figure 3:

Simplified Illustration of the institutional arrangements in S&T

in Tunisia

Office of the Presidency

The higher council of

scientific research and
technology

Ministry of Scientific Research,

Technology and Competency
Development

National evaluation committee of

scientific research activities

National consultative
council of scientific
research and technology

Technical committee of scientific

research and technology

3.1.3

National priorities

The priorities of the national R&D system are outlined as follows:

The reinforcement of coordination between the different components of the

national R&D system in order to generate the necessary synergies for a better
development of competencies and financial as well as technical means made
available to the sector.

The completion of structuring of the national R&D system through the

organisation of public research establishments and continuing with the
implementation of laboratories and research units within the different institutions

The development of human capital and means to ensure the promotion of

transfer
of technology will be achieved through the encouragement of doctoral and postdoctoral training.

The implementation of Federated Research Programmes (FRP) resulting from

national priorities and allowing the grouping and optimal development of national
competencies. These programmes will cover promising research trends namely
the fields of applied biotechnologies, new information and communication
technologies, and renewable energies.

The promotion of innovation and technological development by supporting

innovative firms and strengthening partnership between research structures and
firms, and giving birth to an ambitious programme for the setting-up of
technoparks and incubators.

The follow-up and evaluation of activities and research programmes through the
implementation of a national four-step evaluation system.

The development of a high-level national expertise in strategic fields related to

the development and the security of the country.

The promotion of information and the scientific and technological culture through
the development of exchange networks for the free movement of information,
and access to data banks and documentation centres, on the national as well as
international level.

The development of bilateral as well as multilateral international cooperation in

order to allow Tunisian research teams to exchange their experiences with other
partners, access to scientific centres of excellence on a world level, benefit from
international financing for research and take part in the world progress of science
and technology.

The national research priorities concern primarily the fields of:

Biotechnology,

Water management,

Energy,

Environment,

Fight against desertification,

Microelectronics,

Nanotechnology,

Health,

Environment and social sciences,

ICT

3.2

Science and technology landscape

In 1996, the new law on scientific research and technological development resulted in
significant restructuring of the National R&D System through the creation of research
laboratories and units in Public Research Institutions, Public Health Institutions and Higher
Education and Research Institutions. The orientation law on scientific research and
technological development, dated January 1996, and its application decrees, facilitated the
restructuring of the National R&D System through the creation of research laboratories and
units in Public Research Institutions (PRI), Public Health Institutions (PHI) and Higher
Education and Research Institutions.

3.2.1

R&D Performing Institutes

3.2.1.1

Basic research structures: research laboratories and units

Restructuring Scientific Research and Technological Innovation System contributed to the

creation of 139 research laboratories and 624 research units. The distribution of these
research laboratories and units between major fields is shown in Table 3.

Table 3:

Distribution of research laboratories by field

FIELD

NUMBER OF LABORATORIES

Social and Human Sciences

Juridical and Economic Sciences

14

10

Exact Sciences

37

27

Life and Biotechnological Sciences

72

52

Engineering Sciences

10

Total

139

100

Source: MRSTDC website

3.2.1.2

Public Research Institutions (PRI)

Tunisia has 31 research institutions in different sectors of social and economic activity. The
list of PRI is shown in Table 4.

Table 4:

Distribution of Public Research Institutions by Ministries

INSTITUTION

YEAR
OF MINISTRY OF SUPERVISION
CREATION

National Marine Sciences and Technologies

Institute

1924

Economic and Social Research and Studies Centre

1962

Arid Regions Institute

1976

National Academic Centre of Scientific and

Technical Documentation

1978

Biotechnology Centre of Sfax

1983

National Technological and Nuclear Sciences

Centre

1993

National Physical-chemical Analysis and Research

Institute

1995

Water Technologies and Research Centre

2005

Energy Technologies and Research Centre

2005

Biotechnology Centre of Borj Cedria

2005

Centre for Research on Materials Science

2006

National Agronomic Research Institute of Tunis

1914

Veterinary Research Institute of Tunis

1970

Olive Tree Institute

1981

National Research Institute on Rural Engineering,

Water and Forests

1996

Centre for Research and Studies on Civilizations

Dialogue and Compared Religions

2005

Ministry of Scientific Research,

Technology and Competency
Development

Ministry of Agriculture and

Hydraulic resources

Table 4 Continued

INSTITUTION

YEAR
OF MINISTRY OF SUPERVISION
CREATION

Pasteur Institute of Tunis

1893

National Food Technology and Nutrition Institute

1969

Salah Azaiez Institute

1969

National Neurological Institute

1974

National Radioprotection Centre

1982

National Movement History Higher Institute

1989

Kairouan Islamic Studies Centre

1990

Telecommunication Research and Studies Centre

1988

Ministry of Communication
Technologies

Women Information and Documentation Studies

and Research Centre

1990

Ministry of Women Affairs,

Family, Childhood and Old
Persons

National Remote Sensing Centre

1988

Ministry of National Defence

Juridical and Legal Studies Centre

1993

Ministry of Justice and Human

Rights

National Heritage Institute

1957

Ministry of Culture and Heritage

Protection

Labour Health and Security Institute

1991

Ministry of Social Affairs,

Solidarity and Tunisians Abroad

Social Security Research and Studies Centre

1996

Tunis International Environment Technologies

Centre

1996

Source: MRSTDC website

Ministry of Public Health

Ministry of Higher Education

Ministry of Environment and

Sustainable Development

3.2.1.3

Technoparks/Centres of Excellence

Technoparks (table 5) have been established for development through technological

innovation. The objective is to create a park for excellence or a specialized excellency park
settled in a space of territorial and relational proximity, where researchers, academicians,
executives and senior managers closely cooperate to find appropriate solutions to market
needs. Tunisia also has a number of operational technoparks in various fields and most of
these are still under development. All technoparks include: a production area (relay
workshops and industrial park), a technological innovation area (firm incubator and
technological resources centre),a university park (Higher education institutions having close
fields with the specializations of the technopark),a research park (public and private research
centres in fields of relevance to the activities of the technopark),a shared services area (
accommodation, leisure spaces, health services, banks, conveniences stores etc.).

Table 5:

Established Technoparks

TECHNO PARKS

SPECIALTY

Borj Cedria

- Water and Environment,

- Renewable Energy,
- Plant Biotechnology

AREA

89ha

- Materials Science.
Sidi Thabet

Medical Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industry.

Sousse

- Microelectronics; Mechanics, and Nanotechnologies,

- IT.

92ha

60ha

Sfax

Informatics and Multimedia

60ha

Monastir

Textile and clothing

100ha

Bizerte

Food industries

87ha

Source: MRSTDC website

Planned technoparks and their areas of focus include the following:

Mednine: Desert resources,

Jendouba: Forest products valorisation, (among other activities to be

determined),

Gafsa: Phosphates (among other activities to be determined),

Gammarth: Cinema industry (this technopark is the first to be entirely financed

and run by the private sector),

The Marine technologies network: Aquaculture, Biotechnology, Biodiversity and

marine Environment.

3.2.1.4

Higher Education Sector

Tunisia has 178 institutions of higher education, among them 24 Higher Institutes of
Technological Studies (ISET). In total, there are 13 universities listed in Table 6.

Table 6:

List of major universities in Tunisia

UNIVERSITY
Virtual University

Sousse University

Ezzitouna University

Sfax University

Manouba University

Gabes University

Tunis University

Kairouan University

Tunis El Manar University

Monastir University

University of 7-November at Carthage

Gafsa University

Jendouba University

3.2.1.5

Agricultural Research Institutes

Agricultural research is well established in Tunisia and its origins go back to the beginning of
the century. Initially limited to the cereal sector, it progressively diversified after the Second
World War, and especially after independence. Over the last 30 years, agricultural research
institutions have benefited from generous financial resources that have enabled them to
create new laboratories, to reinforce priority activities, to diversify its objectives taking
development imperatives into account. Appreciable results in numerous fields such as
cereals, arboriculture, vegetable cultivation, irrigation, sheep breeding and range
development have been achieved. New research establishments have been created in the
regions, and specialized regional centres have been set up by existing institutes to bring
together research activities in production and agriculture zones. Despite these efforts,
agricultural research continues to come up against serious difficulties, such as the lack
of researchers and their over mobility, the non-existence of a planning, programming and
evaluation system and the lack of coordination at a national level. In Tunisia, research
is divided up amongst numerous institutes (table 8), organizations and services that come
under the Ministry of Agriculture. Other establishments that come under the Ministry of
Higher, Education and Scientific Research also undertake research projects that are directly
linked to agriculture.

The major agricultural research institutions are listed in Table 7.

Table 7:

Major agricultural research institutions

CATEGORY

SUPERVISING AGENCY

NAME OF INSTITUTE

RESEARCH
FOCUS

Government

Institution de la Recherch
et de lEnseignement
Suprieur Agricoles
(IRESA)

Institut National de la Recherch

Agronomique de Tunisie (INRAT)

Crops,
livestock

Institut National pour la Recherch en

Gnie Rural, Eaux et Fort (INRGREF)

Natural
resources

Institut de lOlivier de Sfax (IO Sfax)

Olives

Institut de Recherch Vtrinaire de

Tunisie (IRVT)

Livestock

Institut National des Sciences et

Technologies de la Mer (INSTM)

Fisheries

Institut des Rgions Arides (IRA)

Soil

Centre de Biotechnologie de Sfax (CBS)

Crops

Ministre de la Sant
Publique (MSP)

Institut National de Nutrition et de la

Technologie Alimentaire (INNTA)

Crops

Institution de la Recherch
et de lEnseignement
Suprieur Agricoles
(IRESA)

Institut National Agronomique de Tunis

(INAT)

Ministre de la Recherch
Scientifique, de la
Technologie et du
Dveloppement des
Comptences (MRSTDC)

Higher
education

cole Nationale de Mdecine

Vtrinaire (ENMV)
cole Suprieure dHorticulture et
dlevage de Chott-Mariem (ESHE)
cole Suprieure dAgriculture de
Mograne (ESAMo)
cole Suprieure dAgriculture de
Mateur (ESAMa)
cole Suprieure des Ingnieurs et de
lquipement Rural de Medjez El-Bab
(ESIERM)
cole Suprieure dAgriculture du Kef
(ESAK)
cole Suprieure des Industries
Alimentaires de Tunis (ESIAT),
Institut Sylvo-Pastoral de Tarbaka
(ISPT).

Source: ASTI Country Briefs, March 2004

3.2.1.6

Medical and Health Research Institutes

Tunisia with its strong research infrastructure has made advances in medical research in
areas such as genetic counselling, cytogenetics, and diagnosis of genetic diseases, along
with regulation and legislation. The main institutions involved in medical and health research
are the Pasteur Institute, The National Institute for Nutrition and Food Technology and
Radiation Protection Centre.

The most well known institute, The Pasteur Institute founded in 1893 and forms part of the
international Pasteur Institutes of France, conducts medical research in Tunis and covers the
following areas:

3.3

Parasitology: leishmaniasis and theileris

Poliomyelitis

Toxins and venoms soft scorpions

Tuberculosis, molecular epidemiology:

Hepatitis viruses, pathology and virology

Research in the medical and health fields takes place essentially at university
hospitals

Human capital for S&T

3.3.1

Masters and doctoral enrolments

The post graduate schools, 16 in 2003-2004, play a central role in the development of
competences according to national economic needs' for a better development. The structures
of research belonging to the national system of scientific research and technology, take part
in the training of the young researchers in various specialities.

Table 8:

Masters and Doctoral Enrolment

PhD students in the Second year students laboratories

and Average
budget
laboratories
and in Masters degree in units budget (in by student
research units
laboratories and units
DT)
(in DT)
2003 2281

2134

15975800

3614

2004 3527

2961

21708000

3346

Total 5808

5095

37683800

3456

Source: MRSTDC website

3.3.2

Scientific Research Workforce

Human resources in the scientific research sector represent meadows of 23000 researchers
into 2004 who devote their time partly or entirely to the research tasks. What corresponds to
12950 researchers while being full time equivalent (FTE) distributed in the following way.

Table 9:

Scientific workforce between 2003 and 2004

Researchers Number (physical person)

Researchers Number (FTE)

2003

2004

% growth

2003

2004

% growth

Full time researchers

635

672

635

672

Part time researchers

11671

13216

13

4006

4539

13

Students

7744

8957

16

6624

7739

17

Total

20050

22845

14

11265

12950

15

Source: MRSTDC

Figure 4:

Distribution of the researchers by category (FTE) in 2004

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

60
35

Series1
Series2
Series3

Part-time
Reseachers

Students

5
Full time
Researchers

Percenatage

Distribution of Researchers

Category

Source: MRSTDC

3.3.3

Human and institutional capacity development strategies

Offering good working conditions to the researchers is one of the principal objectives of the
Ministry. Within this framework, it was decided to create adequate spaces, to provide the
necessary equipment, and to recruit the personnel of support to make it possible to the
researchers to effectively devote themselves to their research tasks. The rate of equipment of
the researchers by the computers knew a good evolution especially in the structures of
research where the objective is to have a computer by researcher. The number of contractual
assistants among the postgraduate students having quite advanced in their theses also
recorded a significant increase. The contracts can relate to either an activity of full-time
teaching or part-time, or an activity of research full-time in a laboratory or a unit rising or of a
higher educational establishment, or of an establishment of research.

3.4

Research and development funding

3.4.1

Gross expenditure on R&D

The scientific research sector and technology knew has experienced a continuous increase in
equipments that are allocated to it. Those come primarily from the budget of the State (92 %
between 1992 and 2000), but also of the companies which finance certain activities of
research and technological innovation (5 %), and of the resources resulting from the bilateral
international co-operation and multilateral (3%). The contribution of the private sector is very
weak in comparison to the developed countries (in general higher than 60%). Thus, the
financial resources devoted to the research sector recorded a considerable growth during the
period 2001-2004 passing from 153 MD to 350 MD (32 % of average annual growth).

The share of research expenditures in the GDP increased passing from 0.53% in 2001 to 1%
in 2004. This percentage is close to those of the countries of the South of Europe such as
Italy (1.05 %), Spain (0.96 %) and Portugal (0.83 %) in 2001. Within the framework of the
diversification of the sources of financing and especially those coming from the economic
sector and the international co-operation, it was envisaged to increase the private
participation so that it reaches 31 % in 2009.

Table 10:

Evolution of GERD/GDP (2000-2009)

Year

GERD/GDP %

Public Expenditure %

International Cooperation and Business Sector

2000

0.45

91

2001

0.53

88

12

2002

0.63

86

14

2003

0.73

83

17

2004

78

22

2005

1.02

75

25

2006

1.07

73

27

2007

1.13

72

28

2008

1.19

70

29

2009

1.25

69

31

Source: Compiled from MRSTDC (blue text denotes estimates)

Figure 5:

Research intensity of Tunisia

GERD/GDP %

Research Intensity
1.5
1

GERD/GDP %

0.5

20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09

Year

The following diagram shows the distribution of the horizontal budget of scientific
research by government departments.

Figure 6:

Distribution of Research Funds by government Departments

MPH
14%

Others
7%

MAEHR
9%
MHE &
MSRTDC
70%
Sources MHE & MSRTDC: Ministry For The Higher Education And Ministry For The Scientific Research, The
Technology And The Development Of Competences.
MAEHR: Ministry for Agriculture, the Environment and Hydraulic Resources
MPH: Ministry for the Public Health

3.5

Research outputs
3.5.1

Publications

Over the period 1994-2004, the number of scientific publications from Tunisia is estimated to
be 5 273 between 1994 and 2004 according to the ISI database. In world terms, this output is
small and it masks the strong science base that exists in this country. The chart in
Figure shows that the number of publications has been increasing steadily during this period
except for the decline in 2003. This performance indicates an overall improvement of the
research infrastructure.

Figure 7:

Number of scientific publications per year.

836
748
671
521

566
470

439

Series1

310
181 173

20
04

20
03

20
02

20
01

20
00

19
99

19
98

19
97

19
96

24
19
95

900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
19
94

Number of Publiations

Number of Publications per Year

Year

The largest sources of scientific publications are the academic institutions. Within the
university sector, three universities - University of Tunis, Sfax University and Monastir
university contributed most of the total university publications indicating a dominance of these
institutions as centres of science. The University of Tunisia is the largest contributor as shown
(see Figure 8) followed by Sfax University and Monastir Universities.

Figure 8:

Publication activity of Tunisian Universities

Number of publications
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

1913

929

Number of publications

810

246

Tunis
University

Sf ax
University

Monastir
University

Sousse
University

83

72

17

16

14

12

Tunis El
Manar
University

Gabes
University

University
of 7November
at
Carthage

Kairouan
University

Manouba
University

Gafsa
University

Ezzitouna
University

Jendouba
University

Virtual
University

Universities

Among the major research institute, the Pasteur Institute is the main producer as shown in network
that originated from France and clearly benefits from this association.

Table 11:

Publications output of research institutes

Agriculture:
The National Agronomic Research Institute

The Centre for Rural Engineering Research

20

The Arid Areas Institute

The National Oceanography and Fishery Institute

The Veterinary Research Institute

The Olive Institute

The National Aquaculture Centre

TOTAL

33

Health
The Pasteur Institute

234

The National Institute for Nutrition and Food Technology

Radiation Protection Centre

TOTAL

234

Other

775

3.5.1.1

International collaboration 1994-2004

Analysis of the publications data 1994-2004 shows that Tunisian institutions collaborate mainly with
France (1 862 co authored articles). The USA (160) is a distant in terms of collaborations followed by
Italy (82). Further analysis of the collaborations shows that most are with countries that are in the
European region followed by the North American region. The analysis also revealed that there is
limited collaboration with Sub-Saharan Countries compared to Arab and North African countries. Only
six collaborations were recorded with South African institutions.

Table 12:

International Co-operation in Research 1

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

ARAB AND NORTH AFRICA

Country

Number of collaborations

Country

Number of collaborations

France

1862

Morocco

57

Spain

48

Algeria

26

Portugal

10

Jordan

Italy

82

Egypt

13

Greece

Syria

Turkey

13

OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Germany

70

Country

Number of collaborations

Norway

South Africa

England

62

Senegal

14

Belgium

71

AMERICAN NATIONS

ASIAN COUNTRIES

Country

Number of collaborations

Country

Number of collaborations

USA

160

Japan

34

Canada

66

India

13

3.5.2

Patents

The number of patents registered with the USPTO between 2000 and 2004 was only two that is
negligible. Tunisia is a member of WIPO.

Table 13:

Patents granted to Tunisia between 2000 and 2004

Class Title

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Total

Utility

10

ALL CLASSES
Source: USPTO

Country analysis not exhaustive

3.5.3

High eechnology exports

According to the World Development Indicators of 2000, high technology exports constituted 11% of
the manufacturing products.

3.5.4

Recent technological development and emerging technologies

3.5.4.1

Federative Research Programs (FRP)

Federative Research programs have been initiated in order to address development issues putting
together all concerned stakeholders (research teams, universities, industries and public institutions).
These programs are financed through multi-annual agreements, which define projects structures,
objectives and expected results, human and material resources to be mobilized as well as follow-up
and evaluation procedures.

Table 14:

Federative research programs in progress

Programs

Components

Renewable Energy

Projects: 5 projects are in progress for the period 2003-2006:

2003-2006

- Solar water heating,

- Development of innovative processes for solar cooling,
- Individual air conditioning using natural gas,
- Analysis of recent technologies of Aeolian energy for local production,
- Development of an Aeolian energy production model.
Human resources: 22 research groups from public and private institutions.

Renewable energies

Projects: 2 projects are in progress for the period 2005-2008:

2005-2008

- Hydrogen energy,
- Development of a new generation of batteries.
Human resources: 8 research teams from public and private institutions.

Water

Projects: 4 projects are in progress for the period 2004-2007:

2004-2007

- enhancing water treatment systems,

- implementation of small scale water treatment stations using innovative
methods,
- criteria of selection and results measurement for rural purification stations,
- use of solar energy for water desalination.

Remote sensing for

forests assessment

Projects: the program aims to establish a forest inventory in 21 governorates

within the period 2004-2007.

2004-2007
Biotechnology
2005-2008

Projects: the project aims to find solutions to the phenomenon of broken leaves
of palm trees.

Health (Disabilities)

Projects: 2 projects are in progress during the period of (2006-2009):

2006-2009

- differential diagnosis of learning troubles

improvement of cares to multi-handicapped persons.

Source: MSRTCD

3.6

Innovation strategies
3.6.1

National Program of Research and Innovation (NPRI)

The purpose of the National Program of Research and Innovation is to respond to the needs of
Tunisian industry by developing their technological innovation and improving their competitiveness
through applied research. Projects are carried out in collaboration between research structures,
industrial enterprises and technical centres.

Specifically, the program aims at:

Supporting of private sector efforts in matter of research, innovation and creativity;

Reinforcing technology transfer through the valorisation of research results.

Targeted sectors are:

Packaging;

Wood and furniture industry;

Mechanics and electricity;

Construction materials.

In 2004, 9 projects have been selected involving 15 research teams, 14 companies and 5 technical
centres.

The funded projects have duration of 2 years with the participation of private sectors.

Table 15:

Sector

Projects in progress under the NPRI

Number of
projects

Number of
companies

Number of
research
teams

Funding from
MSRTCD

Wood and
Wood and Furnishing
furnishing industry Industry Technical Centre

254.000 TND

Leather and
shoes

Leather and Shoes

National Centre

250.000 TND

Construction
materials

Ceramic, Glass and

Construction Materials
Technical Centre

231.000 TND

Packaging

Packaging Technical
Centre

134

Textile

Textile and Clothing

Technical Centre

85

14

15

954

Total

Project leader

3.6.2

Incentives to Scientific Research and Technological Development

3.6.2.1

Premium of Investment for Research & Development (PIRD)

Created in 1994, PIRD supports original studies necessary to the development of new products or
processes, the implementation of prototypes and their technical experiments or the carrying out of
ground experimentations. The premium helps also companies to acquire scientific equipments
necessary to their R&D projects.

PIRD grants up to 50% of the project costs with a maximum of 25 000 TND for studies and up to 100
000 TND for the implementation of prototypes and their technical experiments or for carrying out
ground experimentations and acquisition of scientific materials.

During the period of 1995 2005, premiums were granted to 43 projects submitted by 40 companies.
Total investment reached 2 459 140 TND.

3.6.3

Valorisation of Research Results (VRR)

Since 1992, the Government established VRR, as a financial instrument to encourage Research
Results Valorisation. The Ministry ensures funding for the projects aiming at reinforcing partnership
between research structures and socio-economic actors such as Technical Centres, private
Companies and professional groups through the setting up of innovative products or processes. Up to
2005, 61 projects benefited of more than 6 Million TND funding.

3.9

Concluding remarks

Compared to most African countries, the S&T system in Tunisia is very advanced with very strong
support from government. The implementation of the policy is evident from the technoparks that have
mushroomed thought-out the country. Tunisia has embraced innovation as a key driver to economic
growth and prosperity and has invested in this area considerable amount of funds.

The national strategy in the field of scientific research and technological development expresses the
ambitions of Tunisia to be part of developed countries. The strategy reflects a strategic vision in which
the objective is the setting up of a national research system of an international level that contributes to
the socio-economic development of the country and to build knowledge based economy.

Against this background, the, MSRTCD is striving towards reaching the performance indicators of
developed countries and reinforcing the financial support to the sector. Furthermore, it is to enable the
contribution of scientific research and technological innovation in improving the competitiveness of
Tunisian companies.

References
Jan Stads, G, Allani S, and Mounir Hedri, M, Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators, Asti
Country Brief No. 29 January 2006
Kayamandi, M, Science and Policy in Tunisia, http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/newsletter/2002-08
Lasram, M, Report on the national system of agricultural research in Tunisia
www.ciheam.org/util/search/series, 1999
Benabdallah Salah, Foresight Scope 2015,
http://les.man.ac.uk/prest/SCOPE/documents/National_Report_Tunisia_DRAFT.pdf

Sources of information
ASTI
CIA Fact sheet
ISI database
MSRTCD
OECD African Outlook Report
UNDP
USPTO
WEF
Useful websites
Ministry of Scientific Research, Technology and Competency www.mrstdc.gov.tn
Development
Technoparks
Technopark of Sousse

www.technopole-sousse.rnrt.tn

Technopark of Borj Cedria

www.ecopark.rnrt.tn

Technopark of Sidi Thabet

www.technopole-sidi-thabet.rnrt.tn

Technopark of Sfax

www.technopole-sfax.rnrt.tn

Technopark of El Ghazala

www.elgazalacom.nat.tn

Research centres under supervision of the Ministry

National Centre for Scientific and Technical Documentations

www.cnudst.rnrt.tn

Research Centre for Economic and Social Studies

www.ceres.rnrt.tn

National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies

www.cnstn.rnrt.tn

Biotechnology Centre of Sfax

www.cbs.rnrt.tn

National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies

www.instm.rnrt.tn

National Research Centres of Borj Cedria

www.inrst.rnrt.tn

National Research Institute for Physico-chemical Analyses

www.inrap.rnrt.tn

Arid Regions Institute

www.ira.rnrt.tn