Policy background
The cooperation between the EU and Tunisia has developed under an Association Agreement, signed in 1995, and was further strengthened with a Privileged Partnership in 2012.
Research and Innovation (R&I) is a key building block of the relationship: In June 2003, Tunisia was the first country in the southern Mediterranean to sign a Scientific and Technological agreement with the EU. It entered into force in April 2004.
Since 1 January 2016, it has been the only African and the only Arab country associated to Horizon 2020. Tunisia benefited from the Policy Support Facility (PSF) Specific Support under Horizon 2020, which recommendations were compiled in a final report presented in September 2019 to the respective stakeholders in Tunisia during the TESI conference, Journées “Tuniso-Européenne Science et Innovation”.
Tunisia also plays an active role in the two Euro-Mediterranean initiatives: PRIMA and BLUEMED.
On 9 June 2022, the Agreement associating Tunisia to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027), entered into force following its ratification by Tunisia. The Tunisian research and innovation actors can now fully participate in the programme on equal terms with entities from the EU Members States. The Agreement applies with a retroactive effect from 1 January 2021.
The association of Tunisia to Horizon Europe marks a very positive continuation of the strong relations between the European Union and Tunisia in the field of research and innovation and confirms the position of Tunisia as a valuable EU partner in the Southern Mediterranean region.
Cooperation and funding opportunities
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion available over 7 years (2021 to 2027).
Projects and results
Research project database (CORDIS)
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded research projects. Here you can find international cooperation projects related to Tunisia.
Project success stories
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects involving Tunisia.
Examples of international cooperation projects
- NATAE (2022-2026) brings together cross-continental academic and non-profit actors to study the resilience of North African farming systems, affected by water scarcity and rising temperatures. The aims are to identify, evaluate and promote the best observed and experimented combinations of practices inspired by agroecology in North Africa, as well as to set up a Mediterranean agroecological network for knowledge exchanges and advocacy at regional level.
- LoCEL-H2 (2023-2026) will implement three technical innovations to tackle energy poverty and climate change in developing African regions: an economical hydrogen-based energy solution, a novel battery technology and a prosumer microgrid to facilitate sustainable rollout. These solutions are designed to provide renewable, plug-n-play and cost-effective supply of clean energy.
- DigiMedFor (2023-2026) will employ advanced and innovative digital solutions to improve the monitoring and management of forest resources along the supply chain from their origin up to the wood industry, in line with the EU forest strategy and the EU digital strategy. Faced with the loss of ecosystem services, a multi-actor approach to digitalisation allows different stakeholders to better manage and supply multiple forest ecosystem services.
Contact
National Contact Points
The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.
Horizon Europe
The central contact point for Horizon Europe in Tunisia is the Management Unit for the EU’s Research and Innovation framework programmes (UGPO) within MHESR.
European Commission
RTD-04-ASSIST
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation unit 04: International cooperation)