Technology Parks in Tunisia

Elgazala Pole of Communication Technologies (EPCT)

Background: Spread over an area of 6 hectares, in a city of more than 65 hectares, Elgazala Pole of Communication Technologies is a Presidential Project. Well situated in the Technological City of Communications, Elgazala Pole is distinguished first by its accessibility. Its vocation is to:

  • host innovating companies in the field of information & communication technologies (ICT),
  • develop the synergy between Industry, Research and Higher Education,
  • promote innovative ideas,
  • animate the Technological City of Communications,
  • establish an international cooperation network.

The Technological City of Communications is located on the road to Raoued, 6 km far from the Tunis-Carthage airport. Focus sector: ICT

Established institutions and/or companies

  • Alcatel
  • Archimed
  • BFI/Netcom
  • Carthage
  • CERT Unité R&D
  • Ebsys
  • E-COM-SOFT
  • Enet
  • Ericsson
  • HLP
  • Huawei Technologies
  • IT-Solution
  • IT.COM
  • LINK & CO
  • MRS
  • Newtech
  • Omniacom
  • ONT Unité R&D
  • PICOSOFT
  • Progress Engineering
  • Solarcom,
  • ST-Microelectronics
  • Tunipost
  • Xtensus

International cooperation: UNIDO has assisted the Technopark in its initial stages and more extensively on the planning phase, including the preparation of methodologies and softwares for the management of the park and to assist international tie-ups with foreign institutions. As a member of the International Association of Scientific Parks (IASP) - since June 2000 - , Elgazala Pole has signed partnership agreements with the Technopole of Bari (Italia), Technopole of Nice Sofia-Antipolis (France) and Technopole of Marseille Innovation (France).

Sfax Technology Park (STP)

Background: The Sfax Technology Park (STP) - a modern, 60-hectare technology park to be developed in Sfax, in the south of Tunisia — has been conceived by the Government as an important component of its strategy and will, thus, benefit from the Government’s continued support. Moreover, the Park is to be part of an integrated development strategy, located in the south, adjacent to the University of Sfax - a leading institution in science and technology education - which will provide a unique opportunity for development.

The Government of Tunisia is promoting the project through the Ministry of Higher Education; Scientific Research and Technology. The University of Sfax and its associated institutions are also supporting the project. In addition, the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with the University, actively promotes the project and has gained the support of the Tunisian business community. Focus Sectors: ICT and Advanced Engineering

International cooperation: The United States Government is supporting the STP through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has provided technical assistance to design and evaluate the viability of the project.

Sousse Technology Park (SOTP)

Background: The Sousse Technology Park is an integrated space covering 60ha, with the objective of shortening the distance from ideas to applications. It is located in a suburban area, in a region offering a modern infrastructure which allows easy road, rail, sea and air access; on the belt that leads to the Sousse-Tunis highway, 5 minutes from the Skanes-Monastir International Airport, 5 minutes from the Sousse railway station and seaport. Focus Sectors: Advanced Engineering, Electronics and ICT

Established institutions and/or companies:

Several large factories are already established in the Park:

  • Société Tunisienne d'Industrie Automobile (STIA)
  • AMS (mechanical engineering)
  • Leoni (automotive components)
  • Telectronic METS (automotive components)

Technopark of Bizerta (TPB)

Background: The project has been initiated by the Bizerta Economic Activities Park in partnership with AGROPOLIS Montpellier, an international Pole specialized in agriculture and food processing. This pole gathers 18 establishments of research and higher education and 2300 researchers.

The Economic Activities Park of Bizerta is a geographically delimited area, accommodating the industrial, commercial and service activities intended for export. It is spread on 51 hectares located on two sites: Bizerta (physical extension of the commercial port of Bizerta) and Menzel Bourguiba (it is bording the shipyards). Focus sector: Agro Food

International cooperation: The Bizerta Economic Activities Park has a cooperation agreement with the free zone of "Cadiz" in Andalusia, Spain. It has also an agreement with the free zone of "Jebel Ali" (Dubai). These agreements relate mainly to exchange information, promotion and staff training.

Technopark of Borj Cedria (TBC)

Background: The Technopark of Borj Cedria aims at being the catalyst between research and development activities and industrial ones on renewable energy, water and environment and plant biotechnology. The Technopark of Borj Cedria covers a surface of 73 ha and embodies five main areas:

1. Industrial area: It includes the industrial component of the Technopark, which makes it possible to stimulate and to facilitate the creation and the development of innovative companies with two categories of sub-areas:

  • Industrial promotion zone: allowing the location of companies operational in focus sectors of the Technopark and the encouragement in general of private investments.
  • Relay workshops: temporary and flexible solutions for companies at the beginning of their production phase, following the prototyping phase developed in research centres and laboratories annexed to the Technopark.

2. Academic area: It includes:

  • Higher Institute of Environment Sciences and Technologies
  • Higher Institute of Computer Science
  • Higher Institute of Technological Studies

It is planned to include also:

  • Institute for Higher Education on Environment Sciences and Technologies (ISSTE)
  • Institute of Higher Studies on Informatics (ISI)
  • Institute of Higher Studies on Technologies (lSET)

3. R&D (Research & Development) area: Three centres are already operational:

  • Research Centre on Water technologies
  • Research Centre on Energy technologies
  • Research Centre on Biotechnologies

4. Innovation area: It includes a Centre of Technology Transfer and an Incubator for start-up companies.

5. Common services area: Several common areas are planned for shared services:

  • Conference and meeting centres
  • Restaurant - Cafeteria
  • Business Club
  • Banks, Post office, etc.
  • Teleport

Focus Sectors: Energy, Environment and Biotechnology

International Cooperation: UNIDO has assisted the Technopark in its initial stages and more extensively on the planning and engineering phases of the incubator and to assist international tie-ups with foreign institutions. The Technopark of Borj-Cédria is member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) and it has signed a convention with the French Technopole of Sophia-Antipolis. A project of cooperation funded by Japan is under consideration.

Technopark of Sidi Thabet (TST)

Background: The Technopark of Sidi Thabet is part of the Presidential programme aiming at creating 10 technoparks in Tunisia in one decade. The Technopark of Sidi Thabet embodies four main areas:

1. Industrial area: It includes the industrial component of the Technopark, which makes it possible to stimulate and to facilitate the creation and the development of innovative companies with two categories of sub-areas:

  • Industrial promotion zone: allowing the location of companies operational in focus sectors of the Technopark and the encouragement in general of private investments.
  • Relay shops: temporary and flexible solutions for companies at the beginning of their production phase, following the prototyping phase developed in research centres and laboratories annexed to the Technopark.

2. Academic area: At present it includes one operational institute in the sector of veterinary and it will further host the establishment of a Higher Institute of Biotechnology, a Higher Institute of Informatics, a Higher Institute of Sciences and Technologies and a Higher Institute of Pharmaceutical Products.

3. R&D area: Two institutes are operational:

  • National Centre of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies
  • National Institute of Research and Physics - Chemical Analysis

4. Innovation area: It includes a Centre of Technology Transfer and an Incubator for start-up companies.

Focus Sectors: The Technopark of Sidi Thabet operates in the following sectors: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industries; with applications in the following domains:Drugs for human use, Vaccines and serums, Generic drugs

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