The first innovation hub in Africa managed by the Italian group Terna, named the “New Terna Innovation Zone,” was inaugurated on Wednesday in Tunis as part of a strategic partnership between Italy and Tunisia.
During the presentation of the hub, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, emphasized the importance of this initiative, which falls within the framework of energy cooperation between Tunisia and Italy.
He described the cooperation as “dynamic, multisectoral, and constantly evolving to meet the aspirations of the two friendly nations.” Nafti also highlighted Tunisia’s industrial and innovation strategy for 2035, which aims to attract talent, support startups, and foster the development of the energy industry in Tunisia.
“This initiative is a tangible response to the challenges of employment, innovation, and sustainable development in our country,” he added.
For his part, Italian Ambassador to Tunisia, Alessandro Prunas, underscored the significance of launching the “Terna Innovation Zone Tunisia,” which he said reflects the depth of relations between Tunisia and Italy.
Prunas explained that the “Terna Innovation Zone” project focuses on training and supporting innovative Tunisian talents. He emphasized the importance of investing in innovation to ensure sustainable and mutually beneficial outcomes, bridge the energy gap, and achieve renewable energy production goals.
A Benchmark for Energy Innovation
The Terna Innovation Zone in Tunisia, located in an emerging ecosystem offering significant development opportunities, represents a benchmark for energy innovation and sustainable development in North Africa.
It plans to host open innovation and acceleration programs, enabling Tunisian startups to access resources, expertise, and opportunities from Terna’s global network of collaborations across various international innovation ecosystems. Additionally, startups will benefit from the technical know-how provided by the Italian group.
The initiative also aims to promote better integration of energy produced from renewable sources and ensure diversified, regular, and sustainable energy supply, in line with decarbonization goals.
The Second in the World After San Francisco
The first initiative in this regard will be the launch of a “call for startups” in February 2025, followed by a “scaling” evaluation program dedicated to the most promising and innovative Tunisian startups active in sectors related to energy and digital transition.
The initiative is linked to the major ELMED infrastructure project, the first direct current electrical interconnection between Europe and Africa, which involves the construction of a 200 km submarine cable between Italy and Tunisia.
In line with the principles of a just energy and digital transition, the activities of the Tunisian Terna Innovation Zone will also focus on training and developing engineers and technicians in the energy field, particularly through partnerships with local universities. The goal is to build a new generation of professionals in this sector by providing technical skills, promoting a culture of innovation, and equipping them with the tools to manage electrical infrastructures while adopting innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency of Tunisia’s energy system.
This is Terna’s second global innovation zone, following the one in San Francisco. The U.S.-based innovation hub is dedicated to researching technological solutions, supporting the growth of Italian startups in Silicon Valley, the cradle of technology. It also focuses on generating strategic pathways and partnerships with key stakeholders, such as companies, major investment funds, universities, and research centers, within the world’s most significant innovation ecosystem.
