Tunisian Automotive Industry Fosters Collaboration between Companies and Research Centers
To support its growth in value and technological diversification, the Tunisian automotive industry is promoting collaboration between companies and research centers. The workshop to prepare for the "Pria 2026" program has initiated consortia capable of responding to the industrial and technological challenges of the sector.
The Tunisian automotive industry is undergoing a strategic transformation phase marked by innovation, increased value, and technological diversification. In the face of profound changes in the global automotive sector, the rapprochement between industry and research has become an essential lever for competitiveness and resilience.
In this context, the "Tunisian Automotive Association" (TAA) and the "Cluster Mecatronic Tunisia" (CMT) recently organized a matching workshop in Tunis to prepare for the Automotive Research-Innovation Program (Pria) 2026.
Fostering Collaborative Projects
This meeting aimed to promote the emergence of concrete collaborative projects capable of transforming national scientific expertise into industrial solutions adapted to the new technological requirements of the automotive sector. It is part of the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technology's (Mesrs) Federated Research Programs (PRF), which aim to strengthen collaborative research, applied innovation, and technological transfer.
Through the "Pria" program, public authorities seek to support the evolution of the automotive industry towards higher-value-added segments.
The objective of this workshop is twofold: to identify promising partnerships between industrial companies and public and private research structures, and to lay the foundations for high-potential "Pria 2026" projects before the official launch of the call for projects.
Strengthening Synergies between Research and Industry
Amine Sellami, Executive Director of the "Cluster Mecatronic Tunisia" (CMT), recalled that this cluster, founded in 2012, is one of the oldest and most structuring in the Tunisian industrial landscape, bringing together nearly 80 members from universities, research centers, technopoles, and industrial companies. Its mission is to stimulate collaborative innovation in sectors ranging from automotive to aeronautics, electronics, and mechatronics, in close coordination with professional organizations.
He cited the example of electric micro-mobility projects, where Tunisian start-ups face constraints related to batteries, costs, and low production volumes. To address this, the "CMT" has initiated collaborations between industrialists, academics, and entrepreneurs to develop a standardized and modular battery module, aiming to create an industrial standard.
According to him, this example illustrates the potential of the Tunisian ecosystem: transforming solid technical skills into exportable solutions through partnership innovation, a key condition for the competitiveness of SMEs and the attractiveness of talent.
Fatma Kolsi, General Manager of the "Tunisian Automotive Association" (TAA), recalled that the organization has represented the Tunisian automotive sector since 2016 and is a signatory to the Pact for the Competitiveness of the Automotive Industry, one of whose central axes is dedicated to R&D.
Through this workshop, the TAA aims to bring companies and research centers closer together to form consortia capable of responding to calls for projects around key themes such as artificial intelligence, embedded software, energy management, ecological transition, and cybersecurity.
She emphasized that the main challenge lies in the transition from research to industrialization, justifying the organization of matchmaking sessions prior to calls for projects.
Recalling the weight of the sector, which currently employs over 120,000 people, she insisted on its evolution towards higher-value-added activities and the need to strengthen synergies between public, industrial, and academic actors to consolidate its role as a driver of the Tunisian economy.
Finally, Kamel Boussada, a leader of an industrial company integrated into international value chains, stressed the need for a change in model in the face of global industrial mutations. He advocated for a move up the value chain based on the development of finished products, the valorization of intellectual property, and increased cooperation with research centers.
According to him, innovation requires investment, structuring, and a long-term vision to enable Tunisia to sustainably valorize its skills on local and international markets.
Read also: Tunisian industry: foreign projects drop by 29% in 2025
