AI Innovation Hub in Tunisia to Accelerate Technological Growth Across Africa
A new AI innovation hub has been launched in Tunisia, aiming to drive technological advancement across Africa, according to the NVIDIA Blog. Located in Novation City, a technology park in Sousse, the hub is a collaborative effort between NVIDIA and various stakeholders to promote AI adoption and education on the continent.
Training and Resources
The hub is part of the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute's (DLI) ambitious plan to train 100,000 developers across Africa over the next three years. This initiative is already a quarter complete. The facility offers complimentary access to NVIDIA DLI courses on generative AI, accelerated computing, and data science, providing valuable resources for developers and researchers.
Anas Rochdi, chief innovation officer at Novation City, highlighted the significance of NVIDIA's support in empowering AI startups and advancing AI skills. “This year, we deployed Tunisia’s first NVIDIA DGX system and launched major academic initiatives in collaboration with the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, aiming to train more than 1,000 developers in one year,” he said.
Fostering Innovation in STEM and AI Education
Novation City is designed to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem in mechatronics, encompassing IT, mechanics, and electronics. The center provides cutting-edge resources and access to NVIDIA DGX infrastructure for AI startups and researchers, alongside organized activities like hackathons and specialized training sessions.
Tunisia has a strong tradition in STEM education, making it an ideal location for such an initiative. Wei Xiao, who leads NVIDIA’s developer relations team for the Middle East and Africa, noted, “Tunisia has a rich history of valuing knowledge and scholarship, dating back to ancient Carthage and the Islamic Golden Age. The nation’s rigorous curriculum creates a solid foundation for advanced studies in STEM fields.”
Collaborative Efforts and Future Prospects
The AI innovation hub is a collaborative effort funded by French and German development agencies, the Tunisian government, the World Bank, the European Union, and various enterprises. The initiative aligns with Tunisia’s national strategy for AI and digitalization, which aims to position the nation as a digital leader in Africa. Recently, the University of Tunis launched the country’s first public institute specializing in AI.
Novation City already offers a range of facilities to support technological and scientific advancement. In February, the center deployed an NVIDIA DGX system, one of the first in Africa, empowering about 30 startups across various industries, including climate AI, transportation, manufacturing, and agtech.
Expanding AI Education Across Africa
ESPRIT University in Tunisia, with over 10,000 engineering students, is also a key player in advancing AI education. The university has nine NVIDIA DLI ambassadors who deliver training to students and contribute to the broader tech ecosystem. Since 2018, ESPRIT has been utilizing DLI to enhance AI education and has acquired an NVIDIA DGX system to support research and product development.
NVIDIA has similar plans for AI education initiatives in Kenya and Nigeria, aiming to further upskill and strengthen African technology ecosystems.