June 6, 2021
Tunisia officially expressed its desire to join the new European Framework Program Horizon Europe in order to continue the Tunisian-European partnership in the field of research and innovation, according to a press release of the European Council.
The interest in joining “Horizon Europe” was announced on the occasion of the visit of President Kais Saied to Brussels on Friday, June 4th.
Since January 2016, Tunisia has been considered as one of the countries of the southern coast of the Mediterranean most participating in European research programs, and it is the only country in the Southern side and Africa that is a partner in the European Framework Program for Research and Renewal “Horizon 2020”.
What is the “Horizon Europe” Program?
The new European program to support research and innovation for the period 2021-2027 “Horizon Europe” is a continuation of the “Horizon 2020” program that spanned the period 2014-2020. A budget of 8 million dinars has been set (within the state budget for the year 2021) to support international scientific cooperation.
Tunisia set a goal to strengthen the fields of scientific cooperation by expanding the scientific partnership to include many countries such as China, South Korea and others, and opening up more to African countries within the framework of transferring knowledge and technical support, as well as supporting cooperation with traditional partners.
Tunisian actors have participated 87 times in the framework of 68 grants funded under the program, thus Tunisia will receive 11.2 million euros as a direct contribution from the European Union to finance cooperation with European research centers.
The President of the Republic, Kais Saied, met during his visit to Brussels, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who affirmed the European Union’s unwavering and full support for Tunisia to accompany the democratic transition and reforms in it.
