French Tech Tunis Summit 2025: A Key Step towards Becoming a Major Innovation Hub in the Francophone World
This year, the French Tech Tunis Summit put the spotlight on Deeptech and Artificial Intelligence, reaffirming Tunisia's ambition to become a major innovation hub in the Francophone world. The second edition of this key event, organized by French Tech Tunis in partnership with Business France Tunisia, took place today at The Dot, Lac 2. The summit follows a successful first edition in October 2024, which contributed to structuring a dynamic ecosystem.
Ambassador's Enthusiasm and Call to Action Anne Guéguen, French Ambassador to Tunisia, expressed her enthusiasm for the continuation of this dynamic. She emphasized the need for collective collaboration in the face of current challenges, such as digital transition and climate change. The Ambassador also announced the creation of a France-Tunisia club, in partnership with Business France and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations de Tunisia, aiming to strengthen scientific, entrepreneurial, and university links between the two countries.
Tunisia's Ecosystem in Full Growth "Tunisia produces 10,000 engineers per year, and its researchers are among the most recognized internationally. With over 2,000 startups expected by the end of 2025, the Tunisian ecosystem is in full growth, but requires continuous support to transform ideas into businesses and create sustainable jobs," said Neila Benzina, founder of French Tech Tunis. She added, "We need to create the conditions for a sustainable, inclusive, and structured ecosystem, bringing together the worlds of research, entrepreneurship, investment, and public policy."
AI and Renewable Energy Opportunities Noureddine Hajji, CEO of EY Tunisia, highlighted the unprecedented opportunities offered by Artificial Intelligence and renewable energy. He emphasized that general Artificial Intelligence, capable of equaling human cognitive abilities, is within reach, offering a formidable tool if used correctly. Beyond AI, Hajji evoked the revolution of renewable energy, particularly solar power, which is becoming a more economical source of energy than fossil fuels. He even imagined the possibility of creating data centers in Tunisia powered by 100% renewable energy, serving Tunisian and European competitiveness.
Call to Action and Resilience The speakers all launched a call to Tunisian youth and entrepreneurs to show engagement and resilience. Noureddine Hajji encouraged young people to persevere in the face of difficulties and to remain attentive to global developments to identify opportunities. He also stressed the need to evolve the regulatory framework to facilitate the emergence and development of startups. "We need to push these boundaries to ensure that when we have Tunisian startups that internationalize, international startups come to Tunisia," he concluded, highlighting the importance of maintaining Tunisian identity in businesses that succeed on an international scale.
A Key Step towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Technological Future The French Tech Tunis Summit 2025 has thus established itself as a crucial hub for innovation, strengthening ties between France and Tunisia and opening up new perspectives for a sustainable and inclusive technological future.
