AGENCE DE PROMOTION DE L'INDUSTRIE ET DE L'INNOVATION- API

Their core work

APII (API) is Tunisia's national agency for industrial promotion and innovation, operating as a public body that supports SMEs in adopting innovation management practices and accessing international technology transfer networks. Through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), they serve as Tunisia's gateway connecting local businesses with European research and technology partners. Their H2020 involvement has focused exclusively on coordinating support actions that build innovation capacity among Tunisian SMEs, particularly through structured programs like EIMC (European Innovation Management Certificate) and KAM (Key Account Management) services.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

APII began its H2020 participation in 2017 with a broader focus on innovation processes and technology transfer support for enterprises. By 2019-2021, the focus narrowed and professionalized around Enterprise Europe Network operations, delivering specific EU-standard programs like EIMC certification and KAM advisory services. This shift suggests a move from general innovation promotion toward structured, internationally recognized SME support frameworks.

APII is deepening its role as Tunisia's EEN hub, progressively adopting formalized European innovation support tools — making them an increasingly capable entry point for EU organizations seeking North African partnerships.

How they like to work

APII operates exclusively as a coordinator with zero consortium partners recorded in the data, which is consistent with their projects being Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) — essentially service delivery grants rather than collaborative research. They function as an independent national operator implementing EU-funded support programs on the ground in Tunisia. This means working with APII is less about joint research and more about accessing their local SME network and innovation support infrastructure.

APII's H2020 data shows no recorded consortium partners, reflecting their role as a standalone national agency implementing EEN service grants. Their real network value lies outside H2020 data — as an EEN member, they connect to the broader European enterprise support ecosystem and maintain direct relationships with Tunisian SMEs.

What sets them apart

APII is Tunisia's official national agency for industrial promotion, giving them institutional authority and reach that no private consultancy can match in-country. For any EU project or business looking to engage Tunisian SMEs or establish technology transfer channels to North Africa, APII is likely the most direct and institutionally backed route. Their EEN membership adds a layer of European credibility and operational compatibility.

Highlights from their portfolio

• APII-H2020-GA4-20-21
  Largest funded project (EUR 85,000) focused on establishing structured EIMC innovation management services for Tunisian SME members — represents their most mature EEN offering.
• H2020 WP2017-2018
  Their first H2020 project, explicitly combining innovation processes with technology transfer — establishing the foundation for their subsequent EEN service delivery role.