Fifth Meeting of the Tunisian-Indian Joint Committee on Technological and Scientific Partnership
The fifth meeting of the Tunisian-Indian joint committee on technological and scientific partnership was held on Wednesday, January 8, in Tunis, in the presence of Mourad Belassoued, Director General of Scientific Research, and Kumar Somasundaram Praveen, Director General of International Cooperation at the Indian Department of Science and Technology.
Strengthening Tunisian-Indian Cooperation in Science and Technology
It was agreed to strengthen Tunisian-Indian cooperation in science and technology by launching a call for projects to finance joint initiatives focused on themes such as climate change, environmental innovation, e-health, and geospatial technology. Joint workshops will enable researchers from both countries to collaborate.
Scientific Priorities Presented
During the meeting, the scientific priorities of both parties were presented. The Indian delegation highlighted its advances in ICT, innovation centers, geospatial technology, and drones, while the Tunisian side discussed its cooperation frameworks and participation in the European "Horizon Europe" program.
Strategic Opportunity for Tunisia
With a population of over 1.429 billion inhabitants, India is a newly industrialized country and a key member of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) organization, which now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. This cooperation represents a strategic opportunity for Tunisia to strengthen its relations with this bloc and even consider future membership.
Existing Cooperation Agreement
A scientific and technological cooperation agreement between Tunisia and India has been in place since October 17, 1995.
