From December 7 to 9, 2025, the Maurice Audin National Polytechnic School of Oran (ENPO) hosted the fifteenth National Innovation Fair, an unmissable event for project leaders, researchers, startups and manufacturers in search of partnerships and new opportunities.
The fair was organized by the National Industrial Property Institute of Algeria (INAPI) and held under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Ministry of Industry and the Oran Province. The fair was opened by the Director of ENPO, Professor Fouad Boukli Hacene, and the opening session featured statements by Mr. Mohamed Saleck Ahmed Ethmane, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Algeria Office, Nadir Azizi, a representative of the Minister of Higher Education, and Mr. Abdelhafid Belmehdi, Director General of INAPI. The speakers unanimously stressed the importance of innovation as a driver of social progress, economic growth, employment and business competitiveness, and as a means to tackle complex challenges.
This year’s event highlighted the increasingly dynamic national innovation ecosystem.
A rich and diverse exhibition space
Over three days, dozens of project leaders from universities, incubators, and research centers presented their prototypes and technological solutions. The stands attracted a large crowd, all eager to discover innovations in the digital, energy, material, automation, health and environment fields.
Visitors were able to attend practical demonstrations, talk to inventors and discover projects that are ready to be turned into marketable products.
Meetings, panels and business opportunities
Alongside the exhibition, the fair featured a series of workshops, conferences and panels led by experts in innovation, intellectual property (IP) and technological entrepreneurship. These meetings helped raise awareness among young project leaders about protecting ideas (in particular, how to file patents and trademarks), searching WIPO databases, and the challenges associated with financing and market access.
Meetings were also organized to bring together innovators and economic players. Several promising contacts were made, paving the way for future partnerships and potentially creating new business opportunities.
A best inventor competition to celebrate the occasion
One of the highlights of this year's event was undoubtedly the best inventor competition, organized alongside the fair, in which 117 innovative project leaders competed, representing fields such as agriculture, environment, medical, paramedical and mechanics. Competition projects stood out for their creativity and potential of use. Following the deliberations by a panel of faculty members and innovation and IP experts, four winners were honored at an official ceremony, underscoring the event's commitment to encouraging excellence, supporting emerging talent, and promoting innovation.
National TISC Coordinators
As is tradition, Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) coordinators held their annual meeting in conjunction with the fair. More than sixty coordinators attended the meeting. They discussed the status of the national TISC network and, in particular, its ongoing restructuring around three thematic pillars.
“Allo Brevet”
The Innovation Laboratory for Industrial Systems and Products of ENPO and INAPI signed an agreement at the fair to set up a support unit for innovative project leaders, particularly those wishing to file a patent application. The support unit, titled “Allo Brevet”, will offer project assessments, evaluate their patentability potential, and provide support with the technical, legal, and methodological steps required to protect their innovations.
A showcase for Algerian creativity
The fifteenth edition affirmed the fair's role as a true national platform for creativity, offering young innovators a unique opportunity to raise their profile. The organizers praised the quality of the projects presented and the enthusiasm of the public, emphasizing the importance of strengthening links between the academic world and the industrial sector.
A positive outcome and promising prospects
At the end of the fair, participants expressed their satisfaction with the organization and impact of the event. Several institutional stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting applied research and technological innovation, which are considered major drivers of economic development.
