Connect'Innov Open Lab: Fostering Innovation and Collaboration between Academia and Industry
Event Marks the Closure of the First Phase of the Program
On Thursday, January 23, the Tunisie Foundation hosted the closing event of the first phase of the Connect'Innov Open Lab (CI Open Lab) program, which aims to promote innovation and collaboration between the academic world and industry. The event was organized in partnership with key innovation actors, including Pharmaghreb Laboratories, the French Institute of Tunisia (IFT), GIZ, and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC).
Distinguished Guests and Key Takeaways
The event brought together prominent figures, including Wafa Bchir and Hichem Radoine, co-founders of Connect'Innov, as well as Nejia Gharbi, General Director of the CDC, Gilles Suzanne, University Cooperation Attaché at the IFT, and Myriam Khrouf, Director of Medical Research at the Ministry of Health.
The CI Open Lab program was designed based on a diagnostic of the transition between academia and entrepreneurship. The diagnostic revealed several challenges, including a lack of entrepreneurial culture among researchers and a lack of funding. To address these challenges, the program was established to encourage collaboration between researchers and industrialists, particularly in sectors such as biotechnology. The goal is to foster the co-creation of innovative solutions and bring research closer to the market.
Program Structure and Achievements
The program was structured around five key axes, with a five-year support system to ensure the sustainability of projects. A total of 100 applications were received, with 68% coming from women, highlighting the importance of inclusion in entrepreneurship. Selected researchers participated in training sessions focused on essential themes such as innovation, intellectual property, and developing a sustainable economic model.
Roundtable Discussions
The first roundtable discussion addressed the theme of open innovation, considered a crucial lever for transforming ideas into concrete solutions. It was emphasized that collaboration between large enterprises and startups is essential for developing innovative projects. Open innovation enables startups to access resources and partner networks, thereby strengthening their capacity to succeed in the market. This collaboration is also an opportunity for large enterprises to revitalize their approach and integrate novel solutions. Particular emphasis was placed on supporting women entrepreneurs and opening up the ecosystem to diverse profiles to enrich innovation.
The second roundtable discussion, themed "Collaborating to Innovate in Healthtech: Challenges and Opportunities," highlighted the importance of supporting startups in this sector to address the challenges of the healthcare system. The Ministry of Health is establishing mechanisms to facilitate connections between startups and hospital or specialized services, responding to the specific needs of each sector. Regular networking events are organized to facilitate these exchanges and help startups better understand the expectations of public institutions. However, obstacles remain, including the complexity of administrative procedures and the need for enhanced collaboration between ecosystem actors. The Ministry is actively working to simplify procedures to enable these projects to develop more easily.
