Key achievements of the last decade!

My national and international experiences and implications in civil society, go back several decades ago. Before I swiftly review my present activity I will mention only a highly memorable experience. Since the age of 15, I integrated the Young Scientists Association of Tunisia (AJST). The reason I’m insisting on this early AJST experience is that it had a determinant effect on my academic carrier and my recent civil society activities.

Lately, and since 2011 I founded, with several friends and colleagues, the Tunisian Association for the Advancement of Science, Technology, and Innovation (TAASTI). There are three key motivations behind this project. Firstly, after almost a decade of experience in the MHESR as director and as director-general, my conviction grew stronger that Tunisia needed urgently, especially after the revolution, viable capacities in public policy design in general, and in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) sector in particular. Secondly, there were no national capacity building programs in STI policy, nor structured research programs related to the National Innovation System. Last but not least, TAASTI was the founders’ response and contribution to Tunisia’s historic and profound democratic transition in dire need for deep socio-economic restructuring congruent with a collective vision of an inclusive and sustainable learning society.

During these last decades, I initiated and led several contributions, with several active partners and dynamic teams. I will mention the most relevant contributions as:

Founding President of TAASTI:

• Published, in 2012, a white paper titled “Science, Technology, and Innovation: Tunisia’s Lifeboat!” I presented, in this contribution, my analysis of the main causes behind the revolution and proposed a post-revolution vision along with clear key recommendations. This publication has been my road map for my subsequent activities and contributions.
• Designed and implemented in 2016, and in partnership with the British Council, the redesigned second YAANI Fellowship Program edition. The eight best policy briefs (PBs) were published in a booklet. This capacity training program produced the first PBs in Tunisia. Six out of the eigh dealt with sanitary issues. One of them had the following presently pertinent title “Réussir à affronter le risque d’émergence et de propagation du virus Ebola en Tunisie.”
• Founded and organized, in 2019, the “First Tunisian Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy: Targeting research funding towards national priorities,” with a number of partners including the ANPR.

Professor at ENIT:

• Founded, in 2015, the first of its type the “Engineering and Technology Policy” professional master program. This program is presently being enhanced and resubmitted as a research master program.
• Founded, in 2016, and presently chairing the “UNESCO Chair on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy” Chair.
• Director of the “Research and Training Platform on Contextualized STI Policies,” PRF research project financed by the MHESR.