FETRIC aims to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the EU and Tunisia, by enhancing synergies between S&T EU and Tunisian actors, projects, and programmes. FETRIC will tackle the Horizon 2020 societal challenges through a challenge-based approach in order to examine and answer societal problems in both Tunisia and the EU, especially in these fields:
- scarcity of resources
- energy with a focus on renewable energy and energy saving
- and high quality affordable food
OBJECTIVES
- Paving the ground for the future STI Cooperation Agreement between Tunisia and the EU and building synergies among existing S&T projects and programs between EU and MPC
- Tackling the Horizon 2020 societal challenges: bringing together resources and knowledge across different fields and innovation chain
- Creating a national ‘Liaison Office for the promotion and coordination of EU-Tunisian S&T cooperation’
- Supporting Tunisian participations in Horizon 2020 by reinforcing the existing networks of multipliers (national, thematic, institutional and focal contact points) and innovation actors
- Showcasing Tunisian resources, main laboratories, applied technologies, RDI performers and innovation chain success stories
- Reaching relevant public authorities, funding bodies, researchers, research managers, innovation-oriented SMEs and industry, other relevant EU organizations and the public at large.
MAIN ACTIVITIES:
FETRIC includes a variety of activities. In particular, the project will:
Develop
- An annual country report on ST&I cooperation progress and impacts
- A benchmark on national STI policies and strategies, Mediterranean governance reforms and cooperation
- An in-depth analysis of:
- othe STI system of Tunisia
- oinnovation chain processes to tackle societal challenges
- Policy recommendations
- Roadmap for addressing societal challenges
Set up and reinforce
- The FETRIC Liaison Office
- The network of multipliers
- The network of RTD&I actors
Organize
- Infodays spreading relevant information on the next “Horizon 2020” and calls for proposals
- Roundtables and working groups focused on research and innovation issues in order to identify successful model for supporting innovation and copying with the main societal challenges.
- Brokerage events for matching the main actors of the innovation chain
FETRIC RESULTS
FETRIC will have direct and indirect positive impacts on the cooperation between EU and Tunisia. FETRIC is expected to impact directly by:
- identifying the strategic societal challenges, on which to address future RTDI activities of Tunisian and EU actors
- setting up the FETRIC Liaison Office as a stable organization to support the Tunisian participation in Horizon 2020
- paving an innovation-friendly environment in Tunisia so as to make the Tunisian triple helix actors the driver of innovation
FETRIC is expected to impact indirectly by:
- bridging the scientific gap between Tunisia and the EU
- increasingly substantial investments to Tunisian young entrepreneurs and researchers
- strengthening Tunisian researchers and innovative entrepreneurs capacities
- contributing to the enlargement of European Research Area towards Mediterranean Partner Countries for mutual benefits and advancement
