National Industry 4.0 Hub Launched in Tunisia
The national industry 4.0 hub was officially launched in Tunis, marking a significant step towards promoting the development of industry 4.0 in Tunisia. This central entity, created within the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII), aims to bring together all stakeholders in the industrial sector, produce sectoral studies, and enhance the national and international visibility of Tunisian industry 4.0.
Objectives of the National Industry 4.0 Hub
The hub's objectives include contributing to the attraction of high-tech investments and creating a new industrial contract based on digitization for Tunisia. According to Afef Chachi, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, the hub's creation is part of Tunisia's vision to modernize its productive fabric, strengthen technological sovereignty, develop digital and industrial skills, and promote sustainable and high-value-added industries.
Five Competence Centers Created
As part of the "Towards Industry 4.0 in Tunisia" initiative, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Industry in partnership with the German Cooperation in Tunisia (GIZ), five competence centers have been created in the governorates of Sfax, Monastir, Sousse, Bizerte, and Sidi Thabet. These centers are designed to be living platforms for technological demonstration, training, and co-innovation between companies, researchers, and young tech providers.
Goals and Expectations
The responsible parties aim to create a more robust, competitive, and job-creating industrial economy. The launch of the hub is an important step in the implementation of the national strategy for industry and innovation by 2035. The most competitive economies are those that have anticipated technological changes, invested in innovation, developed future skills, and built an environment conducive to digital transformation.
Accompaniment and Governance
The APII representative and coordinator of the Hub 4.0, Ines Zegnani, highlighted the hub's missions, including managing a platform that encourages the creation of digital transition projects in companies through technical support from experts in the competence centers. The idea is to provide financial incentives to companies participating in project calls launched by the hub, allowing them to benefit from support for the implementation of industry 4.0 solutions.
Private Equity Fund
A strategic governance department will be established to identify resources and perpetuate the I4.0 Fund, the first private equity fund to invest in technological innovation and digital transformation of SMEs. The GIZ Tunisia and Libya Director General, Ariane Borgstedt, emphasized the importance of this fund in supporting companies in developing and implementing digital solutions through simple and effective financing mechanisms.
Cooperation and Future Plans
The launch of the Industry 4.0 Hub marks an important step in Tunisian-German cooperation for industrial transformation, entering the operational phase. Thematic working groups will play a crucial role in defining and implementing priorities with all partners. The project also provides for the establishment of a clear governance framework, new coordination and monitoring tools, and targeted capacity-building actions for partner institutions.
