In the face of new international challenges in higher education, the president of the National Commission for Coordination and Monitoring of Innovation and University Incubators, Ahmed Mir, highlighted Algeria’s efforts to promote innovation and university-based entrepreneurship on the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day, marked every April 21 under the auspices of the United Nations, stressing that the state is sparing no effort in this area.
Ahmed Mir noted that this year, World Creativity and Innovation Day is being celebrated under the theme “Harnessing Creativity for Global Progress.” He emphasized that this theme has particular significance in the Algerian context, where public authorities encourage young people, especially students, to embrace a strategic dynamic based on valuing human capital, regarded as a key lever of development.
The speaker explained that over the past three years, the Ministry of Higher Education has adopted a strategy focused on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within universities. According to him, this strategy rests on building an ecosystem designed to support students in turning their ideas into concrete projects, whether as startups or as patented inventions.
He specified that, in this context, the National Commission for Coordination and Monitoring of University Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Interfaces (CNCSIIU) has overseen the creation of 134 business incubators within universities and certain public institutions. This approach aims, he said, to “embed a culture of innovation in the university environment and contribute to the goal of creating 20,000 startups, in line with the guidelines of the public authorities.”
Ahmed Mir also stated that the results achieved in recent years are considered encouraging. “Nearly 50,000 students have registered under the scheme that allows them to transform their final-year dissertation into a business project,” he added. He went on to say that around 3,200 micro-enterprises have received funding from the National Agency for Entrepreneurship Support and Development (Anade), in addition to 423 startups created, 112 of which have obtained the “startup” label. In his words, nearly 1,500 innovative projects have been identified, while more than 3,200 patent applications have been filed with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).
The speaker further reported that over 700 self‑entrepreneur cards have been issued to students. Addressing the second component of this strategy, Ahmed Mir explained that it is built on research structures—namely research centres and laboratories—as well as digital and technological platforms under the General Directorate for Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT). He pointed out that the Government Council recently approved 17 innovative projects out of 80 proposals, covering several sectors including agriculture, environment, water resources, industry and renewable energy.