Tunisia: In a significant move to enhance cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, South Africa and Tunisia have signed a new partnership agreement, dubbed the Scaling up Tunisia – South Africa Strategy. The agreement was finalized during South African Minister Nzimande’s official visit to the Republic of Tunisia, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral relations between the two countries.

According to African Press Organization, this newly minted partnership includes a comprehensive Plan of Action and Joint Research Call Meeting Minutes. The Action Plan’s focus areas are diverse and impactful, covering an Exchange Programme, Networking and inter-institutional cooperation, a Joint Research Programme, Intellectual Property Rights, Knowledge and Skills Transfer in Innovation, Participation in International Programs, and Governance.

The partnership comes at a critical time as the geopolitical landscape challenges countries with growing tendencies towards unipolarity, often through coercive tactics. The new agreement aims to empower African nations to bolster sub-regional cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, thereby supporting the African Union’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA).

This cooperation framework builds on existing science, technology, and innovation initiatives between South Africa and Tunisia. It aims to create sustainable solutions for pressing continental issues such as youth unemployment, skills development, healthcare, food sovereignty, water and energy security, climate change, biodiversity loss, and digital transformation.

Minister Nzimande’s delegation, which participated in the signing, includes prominent officials from various ministries and entities such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the National Research Foundation (NRF), and experts from the Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek).