11/01/2022
After three busy years, the twinning project between the Ministry of Science of Tunisia and the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain has come to an end
For the last three years, Tunisia and Spain have been working together to improve the Tunisian national research system. The twinning project, funded by the European Union and managed by FIIAPP, has given excellent results that have strengthened the European Union and Spain’s commitment to Tunisia and encouraged research and innovation.
Among the outcomes of the project are the preparatory work carried out to update and modernise Tunisian legislation and streamline collaboration between research institutions and the socio-economic world. Furthermore, work has been carried out to develop a Tunisian science, technology and innovation strategy and promote public-private collaboration networks in Tunisia in line with the European technology platform model.
Severino Falcón, a technician from the State Research Agency (AEI) and the project supervisor, described the results of the project as “very positive”. On the Tunisian side, the director of Exploitation of Research at the Ministry of Science, Rim Seid , highlighted “the need to continue this cooperation between the two countries in the field of scientific research. “Working with the Spanish team has been a positive, pleasant experience. They have given us a lot of help in strategic matters”, he added.
The twinning has also led to the signing of a collaboration agreement between the City of Sciences in Tunis and the Granada Science Park (Parque de las Ciencias). Another line of work focused on identifying national priorities to develop a science diplomacy strategy.
The results will be used to boost sectoral cooperation to support a more competitive and value-creating Tunisian economy based on research, supporting the implementation of strategies that encourage its growth and integration into the world economy, especially in association with the European space.
A total of 38 missions have been carried out under this twinning initiative, mobilising 76 specialists and more than 400 participants . Five training sessions were also carried out in the following areas: intellectual property, programme management, project management, communication and the research framework programme, together with a scientific diplomacy seminar.
