Tunisia has officially launched a new National Industry 4.0 Hub, an integrated structure within the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII). The initiative aims to position the country as a competitive destination for high-tech investment by accelerating the digital modernization of its industrial sector.
The Hub’s core mission is to unite key industry stakeholders, produce sectoral analyses, and enhance the visibility of Tunisia’s Industry 4.0 capabilities both domestically and internationally. A central pillar of its work will be managing a dedicated platform to stimulate and support digital transition projects within companies.
Ines Zegnani, APII representative and Coordinator of the 4.0 Hub, outlined the support mechanism. Financial incentives will be offered to companies responding to the Hub’s project calls. Beneficiaries will first receive assistance to conduct an Industry 4.0 maturity assessment, a critical diagnostic step before implementing digital solutions to transform their industrial processes.
Following project submission, validation, and the granting of financial support, companies will gain access to a curated portfolio of technological solutions. These solutions are developed by researchers and young tech providers, fostering an innovative ecosystem.
Zegnani also announced the creation of a strategic department to steer the program. Its responsibilities will include resource identification and ensuring the sustainability of the “Fonds I4.0.” This fund is described as Tunisia’s first private equity fund dedicated to investing in technological innovation and the digital transition of SMEs.
According to Afef Chachi, Chief of Staff for the Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, the Hub represents the culmination of the “Towards an Industry 4.0 in Tunisia” program. This program was launched in 2018 by the ministry in partnership with German cooperation agency GIZ.
As part of this foundational effort, five competency centers have already been established in Sfax, Monastir, Sousse, Bizerte, and Sidi Thabet. These centers operate as platforms for technological demonstration, training, support, and co-innovation, bringing together companies, researchers, and young talent specialized in advanced technologies.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
