topic Ministry

Tunisia

Political framework for scientific and technological cooperation

The 1998 "Memorandum of Understanding" on scientific and technological cooperation forms the political framework for scientific-technological cooperation between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Tunisian Government. Cooperation at EU level is based on an agreement on cooperation in the fields of science and technology between the EU and Tunisia of 2004. The Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology is the most important contact partner in this area. In the past, German-Tunisian cooperation has been limited primarily to institutions of higher education and projects within the framework of European cooperation. However, there are plans for a general expansion of cooperation.

Particular activities on the part of German institutions

There are currently a number of diverse collaborations involving German and Tunisian institutions of higher education. These include inter alia:

•  Aachen University of Applied Sciences
• University of Bielefeld
• Technical University of Braunschweig,
• Furtwangen University
• University of Heidelberg
• Karlsruhe University
• University of Mannheim
• University of Stuttgart

Furthermore, there is also close cooperation between the Technical University of Munich and Tunis El Manar University in the field of research into "Regenerative Resources". In autumn 2010, the Technical University Berlin intensified its cooperation with its Tunisian partners and organized an international seminar on "Drinking Water Development and Conservation and Wastewater Purification" from 14 to 18 October 2010 in Sfax and Hammamet, Tunisia in which students and alumni from the TU Berlin also participated.

The research centre Geesthacht (GKSS) cooperates with the Institut National Agronomique de Tunisi, Tunis-Mahrajne and the Institut National Des Sciences Et Technologies De La Mer, Salammbo, and Institut Pasteur De Tunis, Tunis, particularly within the framework of the EU's CIRCE and ECOOP projects.

A prime focus of the German Aerospace Center's "EnerMENA" project is to pass on knowhow on solar thermal power station technology to research institutions, universities, industrial companies, specialists, engineering firms and energy suppliers. One of the most important aims is to improve networking among all the stakeholders involved in the construction of solar thermal power stations.

Tunisian research institutions have taken part in over 280 projects since the 4th EU Research Framework Programme. The thematic focuses of the projects, which also involved German institutions, were: Environment, food, agriculture and biotechnology as well as health.