TUNIS, July 17 (NNN-SANEWS) — In a bid to deepen bilateral cooperation, South Africa and Tunisia have signed a landmark agreement aimed at scaling up collaboration in science, technology, and innovation (STI).
The agreement, signed during the official visit of Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, to Tunisia, forms part of the Scaling up Tunisia–South Africa Strategy. It includes a detailed plan of action and the formal minutes of a joint research call meeting.
According to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the strategy outlines several key areas of focus, including exchange programmes, inter-institutional cooperation, joint research initiatives, intellectual property rights, innovation-driven knowledge and skills transfer, participation in international programmes, and governance.
The signing ceremony followed an opening session featuring keynote remarks from Tunisia’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mondher Belaid, and Minister Nzimande.
Nzimande noted that the visit was primarily intended to strengthen STI relations between the two nations, while also reflecting on the historic ties forged during the anti-apartheid struggle.
Emphasising the strategic value of the partnership, Nzimande said: “We hold the view that African countries must intensify sub-regional science, technology and innovation cooperation and through this, mobilise more coherent support for the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa or STISA.”
He also thanked the Tunisian Embassy in South Africa for its efforts in fostering bilateral relations, highlighting the recognition of Hasna Tizaoui, the Economic and Cultural Counsellor at the Tunisian Embassy, with a Science Diplomacy award.
“To express our appreciation for this work done by your Embassy in South Africa, through our Science Forum South Africa, we awarded Ms Hasna Tizaoui, Economic and Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Tunisia, with the prestigious Science Diplomacy award,” Nzimande said.
Touching on global political shifts, the Minister warned of rising geopolitical pressures and called for stronger African unity in STI efforts.
“We, therefore, hold the view that African countries must intensify sub-regional science, technology and innovation cooperation and through this, mobilise more coherent support for the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA).”
The new agreement builds on an already established relationship in STI cooperation between South Africa and Tunisia. It aims to accelerate the development of innovative solutions to address shared challenges such as youth unemployment, skills development, healthcare, food security, energy and water sustainability, climate change, biodiversity loss, and digital transformation.
Nzimande was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the DSTI and its entities, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the National Research Foundation (NRF), and experts from Mintek (the Council for Mineral Technology). — NNN-SANEWS
