Partnership - From Luxembourg to Tunisia, very promising discusions!

From 6 to 9 November 2017, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) visited Tunisia within the framework of an economic mission which brought together 24 participants, representing 13 companies in Luxembourg. The institute was represented by four employees from departments specialising in the Environment and IT, ERIN and ITIS respectively, coordinated by Bernard Lambeaux.

The primary objective of this visit organised by the Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Luxinnovation and LIST, was to bring together business and innovation communities in Luxembourg and Tunisia in the sectors of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), logistics and cleantech, with a view to forming new partnerships and consolidating existing ones. More information available in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry press release.

In this context and in the framework of research activities for which LIST receives support from the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs (MAEE), employees from LIST contributed towards organising three working seminars in direct relation with the ICT, Logistics and Cleantech sectors:   

• "Blockchain and Logistic Technology" Seminar organised in close collaboration with WEVIOO, an international IT consultancy group located in Tunis;  
• "Management of mobility in the SmartCity context" Seminar organised in collaboration with the "Bizerte 2050" association in Bizerte;  
• "Collaborative projects in the Water Safety and Security domain" Seminar organised in the form of a series of successive consultations. 

Feedback on seminars organised by LIST

#1 "Blockchain and logistics technology"

This first seminar took place on Tuesday 7 November at the Elgazala Technopark, jointly organised by Pascal Lhaos and Thierry Grandjean. The General Directorate for "Multimodal Transportation and Logistics" at the Tunisian Ministry for Transportation, as well as the Tunisian Post Office offered support, whilst the Elgazala Technopark provided logistical support.

Close to 20 leading Tunisian professionals and personalities participated in this workshop. Beyond the objective of raising the awareness of various stakeholders in logistics as to the potential of Blockchain technology, this workshop offered the opportunity for discussions to be held on practical problems met in the logistics sector in Tunisia and the solutions that this technology offers for their resolution (e.g. traceability). 

The seminar offered the following possibilities:

• to define a draft European H2020 project on an agri-food scenario which was subsequently presented to a panel of over 200 people as part of the ICT Proposer's Day in Budapest. During both the workshop and the presentation, many stakeholders showed their interest in joining the initiative;
• to launch a working group, with participation of the CEO of POST-Tn, Deloitte Tn and LIST, so as to use the results of the discussions held during the seminar and other Use-Case feedback as part of the collaborative work/project.

This is the perspective from which the discussions also took place on the issue of Blockchain, between the Higher School of Communication of Tunis (SUP'COM), LIST and a Luxembourg firm with the prospect of a joint thesis.

#2 "Management of mobility in the smartcity context"

The second seminar took place on Wednesday 8 November in Bizerte, co-organised by Bertrand Meunier. This seminar forms part of the objective of performing a feasibility study based on a technological mechanism for the design, planning and promotion of the regional tourism policy in the context of the "Bizerte Smart City".

It follows in wake of many interviews undertaken in Bizerte with stakeholders representing the ecosystem in Bizerte. It offered the chance to perform an overview of these interviews in the form of a framework memo for future technological development. It was approved in an interactive, participative manner. Finally, an action plan and terms and conditions for technological development were discussed.  

Following the seminar, the Bizerte 2050 Association, the Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Bizerte and the Elgazala Technopark reached an agreement to organise a Hackathon for the development of a POC for simulation of a technological e-governance platform for the Tunisia 2020 project with a Use-Case based on the construction of a "New Bizerte Bridge".

Beyond the direct interest for local stakeholders in this innovative project in terms of citizen e-governance, this work contributes towards enriching the initiatives underway at LIST concerning methodological approval, data capitalisation, and the prospect of future FNR-Core or H2020 projects in the Smart City domain.

The third and final seminar was held in the form of a series of successive consultations involving the Directorate General of the Technology Division of Borj Cedria, researchers from the Research and Water Technologies Centre, a representative from the National Sanitation Utility for Tunisia, as well as the Luxembourg firm Sustainwater, Luxinnovation and LIST, represented by Christian Penny.

These discussions led to the identification of three potential projects to initiate a pilot project for joint value creation between Tunisia and Luxembourg, and research results in terms of: 

• Waste water sanitation; 
• Recycling waste from the sugar drink and dairy industries;
• Mini-parabolic concentrators for sustainable water and energy management.

LIST and the Borj Cedria Technology Division also discussed the issue of the experimental water treatment plant owned by the Technology Division and which could be useful for joint research initiatives.

" Made in Luxembourg  Innovation" welcomed by the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT)

Following on from previous contact between LIST and the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT), Mr Mounir Smida, Secretary General of the GCT, along with the Regional Director from the Gabès site, hosted a delegation of entrepreneurs and innovators from Luxembourg. This meeting allowed the latter parties to jointly promote their portfolio of products and services, as well as their respective skills in the water, industrial security and environmental domains.

Following this interview lasting over two hours, GCT Management confirmed their particular interest:

• in receiving a service offering from one of these companies and LIST service catalogue in the aforementioned domains,
• in integrating innovative skills from Luxembourg in TUNISIA 2020 projects of which the GCT is one of the beneficiaries.

Pictures - a look back at the mission

#1 "Blockchain and logistics technology"

#2 "Management of mobility in the smartcity context"

LIST at GCT