Diaspora Scientists Mobilized for Algerian Industrial, Food Security

Algeria is advancing an initiative to integrate its scientific diaspora into national economic transformation efforts, aiming to address production constraints, upgrade strategic industries, and accelerate sustainable resource management. This initiative, spearheaded by the High Council of the National Scientific Community Abroad under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, seeks to translate the expertise of expatriate scientists into practical partnerships with domestic institutions and businesses. Coordinator Professor Elias Zerhouni has held high-level discussions to align scientific knowledge with national priorities in industrial and technological projects, moving beyond general expertise attraction to focused mobilization around specific national needs.

Key sectoral partnerships are taking shape, particularly in agriculture and hydrocarbons. In agriculture, discussions with Minister Sid Ali Khaldi have outlined cooperation to deploy scientific research, innovation, and modern technologies to tackle production challenges. Proposed areas include developing water-stress-resistant crop varieties, upgrading irrigation systems, and applying biotechnology to improve livestock genetics, with the aim of boosting yields in strategic crops like cereals and enhancing food security. The hydrocarbons sector also features prominently, with State Minister Mohamed Arkab engaging the council on involving expatriate scientists and engineers in research, development, and advanced technology deployment. Efforts here focus on curbing methane emissions, reducing the sector's carbon footprint, and localizing the manufacture of complex equipment to build domestic industrial capacity and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

The scope of this initiative extends to environmental protection, water resource management, and public enterprise modernization. Cooperation in desalination aims to improve the energy efficiency of treatment processes, while a specialized working group with Environment Minister Kaouter Krikou will support projects related to the circular economy, pollution control, and climate-change mitigation. A national digital platform for biodiversity protection, cataloguing nearly 27,000 species, is also a significant undertaking. Furthermore, the High Council is connecting public enterprises with international innovation networks to support digital transformation, strengthen industrial management, and improve international competitiveness, particularly in energy, industry, transport, trade, and agri-food sectors. Established by Presidential Decree No. 26-293 of September 7, 2026, the High Council operates as an advisory body directly attached to the President, endowed with legal personality and financial autonomy, ensuring a structured and permanent framework for cooperation that requires the active participation of Algerian-based partners in all projects.