Tunisia Launches AI Hub to Train 100,000 African Developers

AI innovation hub launches in Tunisia: A new AI innovation hub for developers across Tunisia has opened in Novation City, a technology park in Sousse, as part of NVIDIA’s effort to train 100,000 developers across Africa in three years.

• The hub is a collaboration between Novation City and the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI), offering training, technologies, and business networks to drive AI adoption across the continent.
• Located in central Tunisia, the hub provides complimentary access to NVIDIA DLI courses on topics such as generative AI, accelerated computing, and data science.
• Novation City’s AI, industry 4.0, and smart transport centers of excellence offer cutting-edge resources and access to NVIDIA DGX infrastructure for AI startups and researchers.

Tunisia’s STEM and AI focus: The country’s strong emphasis on STEM education, particularly in mathematics and sciences, has created a solid foundation for advanced studies and innovation in AI.

• Tunisia’s rich history of valuing knowledge and scholarship, dating back to ancient Carthage and the Islamic Golden Age, has contributed to its rigorous curriculum.
• The country’s strategic location serves as a gateway between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, fostering a thriving ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship, and research.
• Tunisia has adopted a national strategy for AI and digitalization, aiming to position itself as a digital leader in Africa.

Collaboration and funding: The AI innovation hub initiative fosters collaboration between academia, industry, and government, supported by various funding sources.

• French and German development agencies, the Tunisian government, the World Bank, and the European Union, along with several enterprises, have provided funding for the initiative.
• The University of Tunis recently launched the nation’s first public institute specializing in AI, further strengthening the country’s commitment to AI education and research.

Sovereign AI development: The hub aims to promote sovereign AI capabilities in Tunisia and across Africa by upskilling the local workforce and providing necessary infrastructure.

• Free DLI training offered through the hub is designed to enable Tunisia to produce AI using its own workforce, infrastructure, data, and business networks.
• Novation City deployed one of Africa’s first NVIDIA DGX systems in February, empowering about 30 startups across the continent in various industries to develop accelerated computing-based solutions.

Educational partnerships: ESPRIT University, a specialized engineering institution in Tunisia, has been actively contributing to AI education and ecosystem development.

• The university boasts nine NVIDIA DLI ambassadors who are delivering training to students and contributing to the broader tech ecosystem across the country.
• ESPRIT has been utilizing DLI resources to advance AI education since 2018 and has acquired an NVIDIA DGX system to support research and product development.

Future expansion: NVIDIA has plans to implement similar AI education initiatives in other African countries to further enhance technology ecosystems across the continent.

• Kenya and Nigeria are among the countries where NVIDIA intends to launch AI education programs, aiming to upskill developers and strengthen local tech ecosystems.

Broader implications for African tech development: The launch of this AI innovation hub in Tunisia represents a significant step towards fostering technological advancement and AI adoption across Africa.

• By providing access to cutting-edge resources, training, and infrastructure, the initiative has the potential to accelerate AI innovation and create new opportunities for economic growth in the region.
• However, challenges such as ensuring equitable access to these resources across different African countries and addressing potential brain drain remain important considerations for the long-term success of such initiatives.