Second Edition of the Digital Co-Development Forum: A Success Story
The second edition of the Digital Co-Development Forum was held on October 17th at the Sheraton Tunis Hotel. This event was co-organized by the French Embassy, Business France, and French Tech Tunis, in partnership with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, the Tunisian Foundation for Development, CONECT, UTICA, the DSI Club, TACT, and FTUSA.
150 Professionals Gather to Share Experiences and Discuss the Digital Industry in Tunisia
In the presence of 150 professionals, this forum provided an opportunity to share experiences and discuss the digital industry in Tunisia, a country where many French companies have established teams and subsidiaries as part of their offshoring strategies between Africa and Europe. This event highlighted the synergies between the two ecosystems, promoting connected and sustainable innovation.
Inaugural Addresses by French Ambassador and Tunisian Minister of Information Technology
The forum was inaugurated by Anne Guegun, French Ambassador to Tunisia, and Yacine Djemaiel, Director General of the National Agency for Cybersecurity in Tunisia (ANCS), representing the Minister of Information Technology. Both emphasized the importance of relations between France and Tunisia and the excellence of public-private collaborations in the digital sector.
Debates and Awards
Neila Benzina, President of French Tech Tunis, and Michel Bauza, Director of North Africa at Business France, opened the debates, highlighting innovations such as the first Digital Co-Development Innovation Competition 2024. The objective was to reward an innovative company among the 10 solutions presented, based on predefined criteria set by the jury, comprising members from French Tech, AfricArena, Wevioo, and Business France. After deliberation, the jury awarded the "Prix 2024" to startup PWN & PATCH, recognizing their entrepreneurial and innovative cybersecurity solution.
Thematic Roundtables
Several experts from both countries discussed various topics during three thematic roundtables moderated by Wassim Belarbi:
Cybersecurity: Co-Development Challenges
- Interventions by Nabil Zakraoui (Globalnet), Bassem Romdhani (Club DSI), Mourad El Aroui (TUNIS RE), and Yacine Djemaiel (ANCS)
- The co-development of cybersecurity between Tunisia and France is particularly dynamic, with active companies on both sides of the Mediterranean. Tunisia is recognized as a hub of expertise, closely connected to European and African market challenges.
Digital Co-Development in the Era of Green IT
- Interventions by Dorsaf Bejaoui Kammoun (Sofrecom Tunisie), Achraf Naffeti (EO Data Center), Koutheir Cherni (Guepard), and Karim Ahres (CONECT)
- This eco-innovation segment is one of the most important challenges for the sector, as the use of artificial intelligence multiplies energy consumption and infrastructure needs. Several solutions for data sobriety or recycling are being developed, particularly within the Sofrecom group.
AI: Co-Development Challenges
- Interventions by Khaled Ben Driss (Wevioo), Mohamed Khechine (Safran), Neija Gharbi (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations), Taieb Ben Cheikh (Novation City), and Omar Triki (Tunisian Foundation for Development)
- Artificial intelligence is a promising sector for co-development between the two countries, as ecosystems favor skills, innovation, and financing for actors. National strategies for artificial intelligence exist, with action plans such as the creation of a national institute for artificial intelligence engineers in Tunisia (2024) and support for young shoots and incubators.
10 Innovative Companies in Co-Development
Ten companies in co-development between the two countries presented innovative and effective solutions to address challenges, showcasing concrete Franco-Tunisian projects that have chosen to grow internationally:
- Data For Ethic: surveillance of school and professional harassment
- Elastic-Solutions: AgroTech & IoT Technologies
- Faveod Designer: for developers
- Lablabee: SaaS solution for advanced technology training
- Labsoft: eco-responsible and committed ESN
- PWN & PATCH: proactive surveillance of the Dark Web
- Qwerio: Microsoft 360 digital transformation solutions
- Syravie: ERP digital transformation for retirement and insurance
- Thinkneo: Fintech digital transformation
- Wattzhub: electric mobility solutions and charging stations
Technical Workshops
Three technical workshops addressed topics such as cybersecurity and personal data protection, with the Tunisian Federation of Insurance Companies (FTUSA); deploying secure environments in the cloud, with Globalnet; and entrepreneurial co-development in North Africa – financing and support between the two shores, with Business France (advice and support – Codev path) and Bpifrance (financing and guarantee – Maghreb Fund).
250 Professional Meetings
Over 250 professional meetings were organized for participants, both in-person on October 17th and via video conference on the dedicated application on October 18th. The first feedback from companies is very positive, with numerous qualified contacts to develop between the two countries.
Support and Media Coverage
The second edition of the Digital Co-Development Forum was supported by Wevioo, Sofrecom, Safran, Wimbee, and Globalnet. Media coverage was ensured through press and radio coverage, with several interventions on Express FM, including Imene Klibib from French Tech Tunis and Omar Hehdli from Business France, as well as expert mobilization.
