Algeria Awards President's Prize for Innovation, Cementing Knowledge-Based Economy
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Takeaway
The President's Prize for Innovative Researchers signals Algeria's strategic shift towards a knowledge-based economy, creating opportunities for international investors in R&D, technology transfer, and specialized education. Investors should monitor the development of research clusters and technology parks, as well as government incentives for innovation, to identify potential high-growth sectors and partnerships.
Algeria held the second edition of the President of the Republic's Prize for Innovative Researchers on April 16, 2026, at the Abdelhafid Ihaddaden Scientific and Technological Pole in Sidi Abdellah, Algiers. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb presided over the ceremony, which recognized researchers and students for their contributions to science and innovation. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune emphasized the strategic importance of science and innovation for national sovereignty and economic transformation in a message read by the Prime Minister.
President Tebboune affirmed Algeria's commitment to becoming a nation that produces knowledge and technology, rather than merely consuming it. The award aims to incentivize research performance and stimulate innovation, aligning with Algeria's broader strategy of economic restructuring. The initiative seeks to position research and development as key drivers of economic diversification and long-term transformation, moving towards a more innovation-driven growth model. The first edition of the President's Award for Innovative Researchers was launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research on April 13, 2025.
The President's Prize for Innovative Researchers spans several fields, including science and technology, health and biomedical sciences, environment and sustainable development, human and social sciences, information security and cybersecurity, food security, water security, and energy security. The award recognizes outstanding research with scientific and economic impact from researcher professors, university hospital academics, permanent researchers, and university students. This year's laureates included six researchers and three students selected from Algerian universities and specialized institutions.
Awardees included Fayçal Kherfi from the University of Sétif 1, Abdellah Ouahab and Yacine Boumerah from the Research and Development Centre of the National Gendarmerie in Bouchaoui, and Hassan Smaïl from the University of Batna 2. Student winners were Maroua Ayrech of the Higher School of Biological Sciences in Oran, Inès Daoud of the National Higher School of Artificial Intelligence, and Soumaya Bouzghrane of the University of Laghouat. Airech Marwa, a PhD candidate specializing in biotechnology at the National Higher School of Biological Sciences in Oran, developed a biotechnological platform capable of producing multiple proteins across diverse fields. Professor Kherfi Faisal presented a medical project using 3D technologies and precision scanning to develop personalized radiotherapy supports, developed in collaboration with the oncology center in Setif.
Going forward, monitor Algeria's investments in research infrastructure, international collaborations, and STEM education programs. Key indicators include the number of patents filed, research publications, and the growth of technology-based startups. Any potential risks to this innovation agenda include bureaucratic hurdles, funding constraints, and brain drain, which could hinder the long-term development of Algeria's knowledge-based economy.