Mrs. Neila Gongi discusses Tunisia's clustering policy and initiatives. Tunisia has implemented a national innovation system involving research, development, industry, training and higher education to enhance competitiveness. Technoparks were established as centers of innovation and business incubation. The clustering policy systematizes support for companies in innovative regions through initiatives like feasibility studies, establishing clusters in sectors like mechatronics and textiles, training programs, and info days in various regions. Pilot clusters were launched in sectors like date palms, vegetable farming, olive oil and mechanical industries. Cluster action plans focus on innovation through research collaboration between industry and universities on priority areas.

1. Titel presentatie
[Naam, organisatienaam]
Working Day - Track: Modern cluster policy
A taste of worldwide cluster approaches
Mrs Neila Gongi,
President of Tunisia Technoparks and CEO of mfcpole
The policy of clustering in Tunisia

2. The policy of clustering in Tunisia
Mrs Neila GONGI,
President of Tunisia Technoparks and
CEO of mfcpole
November 2016 2
19th TCI Global Conference
Eindhoven, November 10, 2016

3. In the last years, Tunisia has become aware of the exceptional geo-economic situation
which is being more confronted to the competition with other countries especially the
Asian ones. Therefore, Tunisia had multiplied the effort to enhance the national system
of research and innovation: allocation of responsibilities, implementation of
mechanisms and instruments for its development and promotion.
Support schemes or programs: (examples):
• European program PASRI: a set of actions and projects have been undertaken since 2011.
• H2020: Tunisia develops the smart specialization for "an intelligent, sustainable and inclusing
growth", by encouraging regions to adopt models of economic development adapted to their
assets.
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I. The national system of innovation in Tunisia

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technology
transfer
Research and
Development
Industrial
production
Training
Facilities &
Utilities
Laboratories
and research
centers
Prototyping &
service provider
center Production
Zone
higher education
schools &
Universities
Business center
Incubation Center
A concentration and
interaction of facilities
and actors in the R&D,
industry and Training.
II. Technoparks: initiatives of smart specialization

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II. Technoparks: initiatives of smart specialization

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
The policy of clustering systematizes new surrounding areas of support for companies
in certain innovative regions.
The industrial grouping in a cluster provides benefits to companies by giving them
access to the qualified personnel and shared departments, and the possibility to
capture externalities of precious knowledge. It concretizes partnerships with the
Research, the Innovation, the Training…

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
• January 2010
• Feasibility study for cluster implementation in Tunisia in the following fields (IT, Mecatronic,
Electronics)
• March 2012
• Establishment of the First Cluster “Mecatronic Cluster Tunisia”

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
• September 2012
• AFD financial engagement to promote clustering policies.
• The Second half-year 2013
• Preparation of the action plan over 5 years aiming to develop clusters in Tunisia.
• October 26, 2013
• The establishment of the association : “Tunisian Technical Textile Cluster” with 19 companies
operating in the following market share.

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
• November 21, 2013
• National Day of Tunisian Clusters: more than 120 people participated to this event.
• January 28, 2014
• National Constitution of Clusters Steering Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Industry, Energy
and Mine / DGIT and composed by 7 ministries and the main organizations involved in the
process of cluster launching in Tunisia (APII, ANPR, UTICA, UPMI, CONECT, the Association of
Technoparks, the Association of Technical Centers…)
• 5th to 9th May 2014
• Two sessions of cluster-training: one for Steering Committee members and the other one for the
key actors (associations, agencies, executives of ministries).

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
• September-October, 2014
• " Info-day cluster " in Tozeur, Gabes, Sfax, Tabarka, Kairouan, and in Tunis to strengthen and
harmonize the knowledge of the regional key players on the process of clusters launching. During
these events:
• 21 governorates are awarness raised
• 153 participants
• 32 evoked sectors
• 19 index forms of “ Demonstration of Interest "are raised
• January, 2015
• A comparative study on the mechanisms of financing for clusters in Tunisia and abroad

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
• From May to October, 2015
• 4 pilot clusters
Sectors Territory
Date palm trees Tozeur, Kebelli, Gafsa (South West)
Vegetable farming by Geothermal Gabes (South Est)
Olive Oil Kef (North West)
Mechanical and metallurgical Sfax (South Est)

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III. Clustering policy: the development program
• December 16, 2015
• The establishment of the association “Technical Textile Cluster Sahel”
• May 18, 2016
• Signature of the agreement AFD/ Ministry of the Industry for the follow-up and the animation of
10 clusters in Tunisia

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IV. Cluster initiatives and innovation
In the action plans established in 3 years with all the actors incorporating the different clusters,
the innovation takes a considerable place, for example:
• Gabès: search of new substrata for the culture under greenhouses
• Sfax: identification with Universities, ISET and the Research center in ICTS (Information and
communication technology), priority Research and development axes.
• Sousse: expanding expertise to the Digital, specialization to market oriented sectors,
aeronautics, automotive and transport.
• Monastir: valorisation of research laboratories results in textile and textile materials.

14. Thank you !
November 2016 14
neila.gongi@mfcpole.com.tn