The National Intersectoral Committee responsible for the Global Innovation Index (GII) organized a conference on innovation in Algiers on November 30 and December 1, 2025, in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This event, themed “Algeria in the global innovation landscape”, is part of a national effort to position the country among the emerging players in the global innovation ecosystem, while strengthening links between state institutions, research centers, universities and startups.
The conference also examined the methodology of the GII and means of improving the country’s ranking to reflect the efforts made and developments achieved in recent years. This issue was at the heart of discussions between WIPO Director General Daren Tang and Algerian officials during his recent visit to the country. The Director General pledged to provide WIPO’s expertise in this area and to advise Algeria on ways and means of using the GII as a tool to climb the innovation ladder.
The conference was opened by Mr. Kheireddine Benaïssa, Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, who affirmed Algeria’s firm commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem in his opening statement and underscored the efforts made to improve the industrial climate. He also specified that this conference is intended to “consolidate intersectoral coordination to support innovation in Algeria and further promote its progress on the international stage.”
The Director of WIPO's External Office in Algeria, Mohamed Saleck Ahmed Ethmane, emphasized that Algeria has immense potential thanks to its demographic dividend represented by an educated, creative, and dynamic youth, as well as a vast university network and scientific output that places it among the most active countries in the Arab world for publishing studies.
Mr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, Head of Composite Indicators Research Section at WIPO, noted that innovation “is a long-term process, where results are not immediate,” advocating “the involvement of the private sector in funding research and development.”
A strategic conference to shape the country’s technological future
The event was attended by public officials from around a dozen ministries, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovative project leaders. It sought to strengthen cross-sector coordination in order to support innovation in Algeria, showcase its progress on the international stage, and increase the international visibility of its achievements.
Through a series of panels and exhibitions, participants addressed the challenges of technological transformation, intellectual property (IP) development, and support mechanisms for innovative startups. Sector-specific stands organized at the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies and Algeria Venture showcased research, technological prototypes, and locally developed solutions, highlighting the vitality of the national scientific community.
WIPO, a key partner in structuring the Algerian ecosystem
WIPO’s involvement is evidence of a strategic partnership that has spanned many years. The recent inauguration of WIPO’s External Office in Algeria has strengthened this partnership, providing institutional support to protect creations, promote innovation and raise greater awareness of IP culture.
Algeria is a partner with great potential, boasting a large youth population, a vibrant university sector, and a sharp rise in patent filings and entrepreneurial initiatives. The conference also sought to help the country develop reliable statistical data, consistent with international standards and capable of improving its GII ranking.
Working towards a higher GII ranking
The second day was dedicated to a meeting with the National Intersectoral Committee responsible for the GII, during which Mr. Wunsch-Vincent presented the methodology used to compile this index. Participants agreed that the GII is a valuable tool for measuring international competitiveness and that improving Algeria’s position in this ranking will not only reflect national efforts, but also attract more foreign investment and strengthen the confidence of economic partners.
Participants also emphasized that improving the country’s GII ranking depends on factors such as:
- promoting research results;
- strengthening innovation infrastructures;
- actively protecting IP; and
- fostering technological entrepreneurship.
Algeria has demonstrated growing political will in all of these areas.
The second half of this meeting was opened to include online participants from other international organizations that help collect data used to produce the GII. Discussions focused on the need to provide reliable and up-to-date statistics.
A turning point for young innovators and the national economy
The conference gave young researchers, project leaders and startups an opportunity to showcase their work, meet national and international experts and open the door to collaboration opportunities. The initiatives presented reflect the diversity of innovations, including digital technologies, industrial solutions, energy projects, social innovations, and creations from the cultural industries.
This dynamic responds to a broader ambition: to diversify the national economy beyond traditional sectors, strengthen technological autonomy, and make innovation a sustained driver of development.
One step closer to a creative and competitive Algeria
The national conference on innovation marks an important milestone in the process of modernizing Algeria’s scientific and technological ecosystem. By working closely with WIPO and ramping up efforts to support IP, Algeria is affirming its commitment to becoming a key player in the global innovation movement.
This commitment is reflected in national guidelines designed to support innovators’ careers, strengthen research and entrepreneurship support structures, encourage public-private partnerships, and make innovation a part of everyday culture.